Leader|jan 24|2007 by Inter-County Leader

January 24, 2007

INTER-COUNTY

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2 sections • Vol. 71 • No. 22 8,000 copies

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SECTION A

Good news at Burnett jail Jail administrator reports positive news on cost savings Page 3

County government is a large employer

Fashionably warm

Who works for the county? Page 5

Greens plan “bridgil” Interstate Bridge will be site of demonstration Friday against escalation of troops Page 3

Milltown man charged with possession of child porn Allegedly told authorities he expected to be caught Page 3

Four-year-old Beth Ann Dahlberg, of Solon Springs, kept warm at the Frederic Sleigh Parade last Saturday with some very fashionable, vintage outerwear. More photos and story in the Currents section. - Photo courtesy Candis Hankins

“So much to give”

Adam Peterson to be remembered Thursday for a young life that impacted others

by Gary King BALSAM LAKE - At the age of 25, Adam Peterson was in the first years of a new career and life when he died unexpectedly Sunday. The cause of death has not Adam Peterson been announced. The son of Donald and Debra Peterson of Balsam Lake, Adam carried his lifelong passion for sports to his

C U R R E N T S F E AT U R E

INSIDE

“Something to call her own”

35-year-old Frederic business changes hands

S E R V I N G

new teaching job at Athens, Wis., taking the helm of the school’s varsity basketball team just a year after being hired as a science teacher there. The school has arranged for members of that team and school staff members to attend the visitation today (Wednesday) at Centuria or the funeral Thursday at 11 a.m. at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake. “During his brief one-and-a-half years with the School District of Athens, he generated the respect and admiration of both staff and students,” Frank Harrington, district administrator, told the Wausau Daily Herald. “It’s quite remarkable for a young man to do that so quickly.” “Extremely proud,” is how family members described Peterson’s reaction to being named to the head coach position at Athens this past fall. Both academically and athletically talented during his

B U R N E T T

Birthing butterflies Nonprofit plans Butterfly House to help women kick drugs, create new lives-

Page 5

P O L K

See Unity graduate, Page 3

SPORTS Tiger roars again in the Jungle Page...17

C O U N T I E S

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Enrollment remains steady in Grantsburg schools

Royal ride

by Carl Heidel GRANTSBURG - Figures from the second official count of student enrollment in the Grantsburg schools were encouraging to Supt. Joni Burgin and board of education members when the board met Monday evening. The number of full-time equivalent students in the district has increased slightly. The first official count, taken in September, showed 964 students. The January assessment listed 967 students. Burgin saw this as good news for the moment. “The January count is usually down from September,” she said. The district enrollment is stable for the time being. This doesn’t alter the fact that student numbers are in decline in long-range measures. Burgin noted that present enrollment still shows a continuing drop in student population when viewed over the past several years. Official enrollment counts each year determine the amount of state aid a school district receives. Because the January numbers remain largely unchanged from September figures, the amount of this aid will remain steady for the time being. In another item, after extended discussion, the board approved a memorandum of understanding that renews Grantsburg schools participation in the WIAA hockey co-op with other area schools. The approval renews and extends the hockey program for another two years, and brings 50 percent of the games to the Grantsburg ice arena. In other business: - The board approved the WIAA wrestling co-op program with Luck and Frederic schools. - The board approved the resignation of high school science teacher Amanda Knudtson, and approved hiring Bob Rauchbauer as elementary school head custodian.

Frederic Queen Julia Haas and Princesses Dawn Harlander and Emily Didlo kicked off the parade in a sleigh driven by Larry Petersen. - Photo by Regan Kohler

Luck explores drivers ed options by Mary Stirrat LUCK — Offering drivers education to Luck students is a losing proposition, and the school board Monday night agreed to look into other options. Many school districts are using private companies to get students through the drivers education process, and Luck is one of only a handful of area schools to offer the program in-house. Others include Unity and Amery. “We offer it, but we’re not required to,” said district administrator Rick Palmer at the regular monthly meeting of the school board Monday evening. Students are charged $100 for the class, but that doesn’t come close to covering the cost of the program. Last year, said Palmer, revenue from drivers education was $5,000, with expenses at

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$20,000. High school principal Mark Gobler told the board he has investigated two private firms that offer the program. Safe Start, operating out of Centuria, is currently working with St. Croix Falls, Siren and Frederic. Cost is $75 for classroom time, Gobler said, and $220 for behind-the-wheel, which is payable in installments. Safe Start typically runs its program through community education or a school agency, he said, and the school receives $15 per student to cover copying costs. A second program is offered through Safety and Respect of Eau Claire. School districts at Hayward, Rice Lake and Colfax utilize this program, said Gobler, which costs between $365 and Manager Doug Panek dougpanek@centurytel.net Editor Gary B. King, Editor gbking@centurytel.net Staff writers/contributors Matt Blumkin mblumkin@centurytel.net Marty Seeger mseeger@centurytel.net Tammi Milberg tammi@centurytel.net Nancy Jappe njappe@centurytel.net Jeanne Daniels the-leader@centurytel.net Mary Stirrat mstirrat@centurytel.net Gregg Westigard greggw@lakeland.ws Julie Holmquist the-leader@centurytel.net Editorial assistant Raelynn Hunter rael@centurytel.net Composition Raelynn Hunter Jackie Thorwick

$385 per student. Part of the higher cost, Gobler said, is because the company does all of it’s own billing. “They take care of everything,” he said. The school can even “customize” its program, said Gobler, conducting the classroom portion of the program inhouse and using a private company for behind-the-wheel. “To be quite honest,” he added, “I’d go for the whole thing.” If the school switches to a private company, said board member Daryl Bazey, the increased cost to each student would be pretty high. “I think a shock would go through the community if we go from $100 to $350,” he said. He asked if the school could

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subsidize the program for a couple of years, gradually phasing out school funding, and Palmer agreed that it would be a good idea. He also told the board that the current drivers education car, with 58,000 miles, could become a district car and used to save mileage paid out to staff attending conferences and workshops. The board directed Gobler to further explore both private companies and the options for partly subsidizing the program for the next few years.

Osceola man dies in single-vehicle rollover POLK COUNTY - A 50-year-old Osceola man lost his life in a single-vehicle rollover crash on Hwy. 35 Sunday, Jan. 21, at approximately 3 p.m. Slippery road conditions due to an earlier snowfall may have played a factor in the accident. According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, Daniel Sicard was driving a Cadillac southbound on 35, approximately three-fourths of a mile south of 23rd Avenue in the town of Farmington, when the vehicle entered the east ditch, traveled down an embankment through fence and overturned several times. He was ejected from the car during the crash. Sicard was transported by Osceola Ambulance from the scene to Osceola Medical Center. From there he was flown to Regions Hospital in St. Paul where he was pronounced dead. The Osceola Fire Department and County Line First Responders also assisted at the crash scene which remains under investigation by the state patrol. - with information from Wisconsin State Patrol

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 3

Briefly... State officials are reminding lottery players to “play responsibly” as tonight’s (Wednesday’s) Powerball jackpot exceeds $240 million. Nobody won Saturday’s jackpot of $205 million although one man in Wisconsin won a $200,000 jackpot. ••• SIREN – A new postmaster has been assigned to the Siren Post Office. Steve Youngbloom, now working at the post office in Menomonie, will officially start his new responsibilities in Siren Feb. 17. Matt Golke, who has been the officer in charge in Siren since previous postmaster Sandy Chabot left during 2006, will return to his regular responsibilities at the Shell Lake Post Office. – Nancy Jappe

Milltown man arrested on child porn charge MILLTOWN - A 69-year-old Milltown man was arrested last week after Polk County Sheriff’s deputies found hundreds of child pornography images and movies on his computer hard drive. Thomas F. Berg was arrested Jan. 15 around 3:40 p.m. after authorities used a search warrant at his home at 441 N. Milltown Ave. Berg faces felony charges of possession of child pornography. According to authorities, Berg admitted to having 400 to 500 child pornography images on his computer, downloaded from the Internet, and told police he was “fascinated with 10-year-old girls.” Berg told authorities that he knew it was illegal to download and view child pornography and that he expected law enforcement to visit him someday because of it. – Julie Holmquist

Kohl sets office hours ST. CROIX FALLS – Sen. Herb Kohl’s regional representative, Marjorie Bunce, will be in St. Croix Falls on Thursday, Feb. 1, to meet with constituents. “If you are having a problem with a federal program or agency, or have an opinion on an issue before Congress, please let me know by meeting with my regional representative,” Kohl said. Bunce will be at St. Croix Falls City Hall and Tourism Information Center at 710 Hwy. 35 S. from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. No appointment is necessary. Bunce can also be contacted at Kohl’s regional office at 402 Graham Ave., Eau Claire, WI 54701. The phone number is 715-832-8424. - from the office of Sen. Kohl.

Greens plan anti-war “brigil” on Interstate Bridge ST. CROIX FALLS - The St. Croix Valley Green Party has announced plans for a public demonstration of opposition to President Bush’s planned escalation of troop numbers in Iraq. The event, dubbed a “bridgil” by organizers, will bring peace activists together on Friday, Jan. 26, from 5 to 6 p.m. on the Interstate Bridge connecting St. Croix Falls and Taylors Falls, Minn. According to a Green Party spokesperson, the plan is for a peaceful presence, or vigil, along the walkway on either side of the bridge. Demonstrators may hold signs or candles, but do not intend to interfere with traffic flow or be disruptive in any way. The theme of the event is “Not one more death, not one more dollar.” The event is timed to coincide with a large anti-war march scheduled to take place in Washington, D.C., over the weekend. For more information call 715-4722728. - from SCVG

Jail administrator has good news on cost savings by Nancy Jappe SIREN – Burnett County Jail Administrator Terry Nesvold had good news to report to the county board at their Jan. 18 meeting. Expenses at the jail have been going down, revenues have increased, and the jail staff has been attempting to collect money that is owed by inmates. “We have had some success in all of these areas,” Nesvold said. Nesvold strongly credited the jail staff’s effort in looking at ways to save money they looked at every line item in the budget, focusing on increasing the revenue from inmates, cutting down on money owed by the inmates and putting money in the budget. In 2002, when Nesvold took over as jail administrator, the food budget was $92,000. The total for the past year came in at $41,856, a savings of $51,000 just in food alone. Nesvold allows inmates to purchase food from a local pizza place on Fridays. This not only saves the jail money, it fosters a positive attitude in the inmates. Jail nurse Jan Moddrell has helped the jail decrease medical expenses by $18,000 a year for the last couple of years. Inmate debt has been lowered from $44,800 in 2006 to $27,000 this year. The jail now uses a Tax Return Intercept Program to collect any debt incurred by the inmates, and the jail staff tries to get inmate debt paid down prior to their release from jail. Anytime an inmate comes in with money, the jail staff applies that money toward any outstanding debt.

Burnett County Jail Administrator Terry Nesvold had good news to report to the county board at their Jan. 18 meeting. When Nesvold took over the jail in 2002, the food budget was at $92,000. That figure came in at $41,856 for 2006. “We have saved over $51,000 per year on food alone, and have shown improvements in the diet,” Nesvold said in describing only one of the ways his department has worked together to save the county money. – Photo by Nancy Jappe At any one time, the jail has had at least eight to nine inmates in one of three new programs – Community Service, Drug Court and the Salvation Army Rehab Center. This saves $405 a day, which averages out to $147,000 a year. “These are all inmates that would be in other jails, costing us dollars,” Nesvold said, adding that the use of these programs is supported by

Gun shots in Balsam Lake lead to arrest BALSAM LAKE - A Balsam Lake man was arrested Friday night after police were notified about a man firing a gun in a house on the south side of Balsam Lake on Hwy. 46. Polk County Sheriff’s Department arrested Nicholas Mosay, 20, who now faces possible charges of intoxicated use of a firearm. Mosay told police that he was beaten up by neighbors and said he wanted to show that he was “not going to take it.” According to authorities, he first told a deputy that he was shot at, and showed where the bullets holes were in

his home. The deputy reported that he could see the bullet hole was an exit hole and had been fired from inside the home. There was also a .22-caliber rifle in the house and a box of shells. According to the sheriff’s department, Mosay showed the deputy three bullet holes near the kitchen, also fired from the inside of the house. Authorities said Mosay admitted that after he was beaten up, he went home and fired the gun from inside the house, including one round in the directions of neighbors. – Julie Holmquist

Follow the Leader. Unity graduate/from page 1 years at Unity High School, Peterson played quarterback the year the Eagles were conference champions and went out for track and baseball. Peterson began his teaching career in Grantsburg in the fall of 2005 before accepting the teaching position at Athens, a town of 1,000 approximately 20 miles northeast of Abbotsford. Last Friday Peterson, who had diabetes since he was a child, was not feeling well, according to a family friend. On Sunday he collapsed as his girlfriend was taking him to a hospital. He was taken by ambulance to a hospital in Marshfield where efforts to revive him failed. An autopsy was planned for Monday, but results were unavailable at press time. According to Superintendent Har-

rington Peterson would discuss his diabetes with diabetic students. “Adam was a wonderful young man who had so much to give to other children through his teaching and coaching,” said a close family friend, Mary Tilton, who added she never heard him say a bad word about anyone, nor anyone say a bad word about him. A visitation is scheduled for this afternoon (Wed., Jan. 24) from 4 to 8 p.m. at the Kolstad-Rowe Funeral Home in Centuria. There will also be a visitation for one hour prior to the funeral service Thursday at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake. A full obituary appears in the Currents section of this week’s Leader.

the judge and probation department and, of 20 prisoners who have been involved with these programs, only two have come back to the jail. Nesvold found a transport agency that saved the jail $4,613 by bringing a prisoner to Siren from Bozeman, Mont., at no charge. Video conferencing saved 19,230 miles, 351 work hours and 252 overtime hours since it started within the last two years. At least 30 trips a year, at about 45 cents a mile, are saved to and from Polk County alone through the use of videoconferencing. “We are talking about saving quite a bit of big money,” Nesvold commented, adding that he saved $970 in file folders alone because he was able to find a new printing company to supply them. “We have been working hard on this. It is important to keep on working hard,” Nesvold said. “I don’t know what ’07 will be bringing, but so far, it is looking OK. We have taken the stance that every cost associated with the jail needs to be looked at, and what the saving potential could be for the county. With that being said, we are doing this without any increase in liability, and without jeopardizing the safety and security of the citizens.” Sheriff Dean Roland pointed out that maximum performance by staff has brought about minimum expenses. “The 2007 budget, with all improvements and increases, came in at $18,000 under the 2006 budget, and we have been able to maintain standards,” the sheriff said.

Luck man charged with selling pot POLK COUNTY - A 58-year-old Luck man, with a lengthy criminal record, has been charged in Polk County with four felony counts of manufacturing and delivering marijuana and five felony counts of bond violations. Raymond Arellona was arrested Jan. 17 after Polk County Sheriff’s deputies used a search warrant at his home. The sheriff’s department gained evidence of three marijuana buys after a cooperating person purchased a total of about 18 grams from Arellona on Dec. 27, 2006, Jan. 3 and Jan. 12. According to the sheriff’s department, the deputy arriving at Arellano’s home on Jan. 17, also made contact with someone leaving the house with what looked like marijuana. The person told the deputy that he paid $60 to Arellona for the 14.7 grams of marijuana. Arellona was also charged with possession of marijuana. A preliminary hearing in Polk County Circuit Court is scheduled for Jan. 25. – Julie Holmquist

Correction The Leader inadvertently stated that Jenelle Lindquist is an employee of Capeside Cove Good Samaritan Center in Siren in a feature story in the Currents section. We apologize to Ms. Lindquist and Capeside Cove for the error.

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

County board hears reports on drug court and lakes and rivers association

by Nancy Jappe SIREN – A report on drug court and from officers of the Burnett County Lakes and Rivers Association were on the agenda for the Jan. 18 meeting of the county board. Judge Mike Gableman was on hand to talk about drug court. Lakes and Rivers Association President Roger Noe and treasurer Buck Gooding talked about the work being done by their group. According to Gooding, there are 42 lakes represented by their association including Big Doctor Lake and Bashaw Lake, which were recently added. “We do fall and spring newsletters, and the biggest thing we are about is education,” Gooding said. The association has placed cameras on five lakes to monitor people who are putting in or taking out of lakes in regard to invasive species. “Burnett County is (taking) the lead for the DNR in the state (with this enabling grant),” said Land and Water Conservationist Dave Ferris.

Burnett County Circuit Court Judge Mike Gableman gave a presentation on drug court for the county board at their Jan. 18 meeting. “Drug court is a program for those who are suffering from addiction and looking for a way out. They tell us this as a precondition,” the judge told the board. He also commented that drug court encapsulates the wording on the county seal – vision and stewardship. - Photo by nancy Jappe

They have a woods and water workshop that they hope to take to the public in July at the government center. They are monitoring Lipsie Lake in a cranberry-bog issue with the DNR. Members of the association provide a liaison with all the lake associations in the county.

Drug court report “Drug court is a program for those who are suffering from addiction and looking for a way out. They tell us this as a precondition,” Judge Gableman told the board. He stressed that getting into drug court happens only after a person has been prosecuted and convicted of a drug-related crime. The thought of a sentence hanging over their heads is the motivation for people to follow through on their commitment to the provisions of the court. “During the short time the court has been up and running (starting July 1, 2006, as a closely monitored program), drug court has saved the county between $40,000 and $48,000. It is an answer to chronic drug and alcohol use, offering monitored treatment with immediate consequences for noncompliance,” the judge said. He explained that drug court started with zero funding, just a vision that this was what the county needed to do as an alternative that could work. Now there is funding for the program. In the fall, the secretary of the Department of Corrections came to Burnett County with a check that was to be shared with the St. Croix Tribe and Washburn County (which hasn’t started drug court yet). The judge meets personally with each person who goes through drug court to see how they are doing in the recovery process. Six participants have gone through drug court in six months. “We are figuring this out as we are going along,” the judge said. “There’s no magic to it. Participants realize that we are all after the same thing. Participants are sincere. We don’t give them any false expectations.” The judge made it plain that he won’t let a person into the program if he can tell they are set for failure. The judge

Buck Gooding (R), treasurer, and Roger Noe, president of the Burnett County Lakes and Rivers Association, gave a report on the association at the Jan. 18 county board meeting. The board member shown in the picture is Brent Blomberg from District 1. “We are fortunate to live in Wisconsin and Burnett County, with its wonderful pristine lakes and waters,” Gooding commented. - Photo by Nancy Jappe has the ultimate authority for supervision of the program. “In my view, it would not be appropriate to delegate the ultimate authority,” he said. The board members were invited to attend any of the sessions of drug court. Board Chairman Larry Main said he had gone to one of the sessions, was impressed by what he had seen and encouraged the board to do likewise. A suggestion was made that high school students also be invited to attend sessions of the drug court. One of the participants is putting together a program to be presented to Webster students. “Meth use can be a one-way ticket to hell,” Judge Gableman commented.

Other county board issue The county’s emergency manager, Bobbi Sichta, is looking at state and federal programs in the area of emergency communications. Many systems in the county need to be replaced with digital, if this has not already been done. “The biggest thing is improving our basic infrastructure. It has been ignored way too long,” Sichta told the board. She explained that she was referring to issues of digital and mobile communication and wireless 911 communication. “We need to start planning and prioritizing,” she said.

New public health officer appointed Burnett County Public Health Supervisor Carol Larson, R.N., B.S.N., has been officially appointed as the county’s public health officer. “Since 1995, Carol has been functioning in this position. We are now making it official,” said Health and Human Services Director Jeff McIntyre as he presented the appointment to the county board for approval at their Jan. 18 meeting. – Photo by Nancy Jappe

Fundraiser to help fight breast cancer

DNA evidence exonerates more each year

Members of the Mixed Sampler Quilt Guild are taking part in a quilt fundraiser to benefit the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. The blocks for Quilt Pink were made by quilters who came to the guild’s October 2006 quilt show in Siren, and members sewed the rows and borders during their November retreat. The finished quilt, shown here by (L to R) Katie Sundquist; Karen Larson and Betty MacKean, Quilt Pink co-chairs; Betty Evan and Joyce Quist at their Jan. 13 meeting at the Siren Senior Center, will be auctioned as part of 5,000 donated quilts on eBay sometime between February and May. All the material in the quilt was donated, and the machine quilting and binding were donated by MacKean’s Christmas Valley Quilting in Luck. – Special Leader photo

MADISON - The number of prisoners exonerated by DNA evidence each year is on the rise in some states, and remaining constant in others. That surprises the director of the Wisconsin Innocence Project. Twelve defendants in Dallas alone have been exonerated by DNA evidence since 1989, when courts first began allowing the use of DNA. But Wisconsin’s Keith Findley says he and others expected they’d run out of previously undiscovered cases of innocent people for whom there still is biological evidence that can be DNA tested to prove their innocence,

but surprisingly they really haven’t seen that. Findley says one of the reasons the exoneration rate continues to rise is that DNA testing technology has improved. He says that’s especially true of rape cases where there is mix of both male and female DNA. Findley says that means that some people who’ve tried unsuccessfully to use DNA to prove their innocence in the past can now have that evidence tested again with more reliable results that sometimes leads to their release. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Gil Halsted)

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JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 5

County government is a large employer

Who works for the county? by Gregg Westigard POLK COUNTY – Good roads. Help for at-risk residents. Protection of lakes. Regulation of development. Law enforcement. County government delivers these services and more. All these services are provided by people in county governments which are some of the largest employers in our area. This article looks at Polk County but the information is similar for Burnett and Washburn counties. Who works for the county? A lot of people. There are employees driving snow plows, issuing permits, feeding seniors. There are degreed professionals including nurses and attorneys. Full time, part time, seasonal. It is hard to come up with the number of county employees. But there are some people around the government center who are not county employees. Who doesn’t work for the county? The Circuit Court Judges, Robert Rasmussen and Molly GaleWyrick and their staff are state employees as are several other judicial officers including court commissioners. District Attorney Dan Steffen and Assistant District Attorney Stephen Dorrance are also state employees but their staff work for the county. The state and federal governments employ a number of people including natural resource workers such as conservation wardens and the Farm Service Agency staff. State traffic officers and probation and parole agents are also state employees based in the county. UW –Extension is a special mix of employees. Four agents are state employees with state benefits but 40 percent of their salary and benefits are paid by the county. Extension support staff are county employees.

That leaves a lot of people working for the county. One count looking at authorized full-time positions came up with 317 jobs. That does not include Golden Age Manor, the county-owned nursing home with a staff of about 150. This count of 467 jobs does not include part-time and seasonal employees. That group would include the aging program meal site workers, summer parks workers, and the 23 county board members who receive pay for the meetings they attend. An exact count of the total number of employees may not be possible, even if a definition of employees could be determined. In Polk County, positions are authorized but are not always filled for various reasons. Some specialized jobs, including some mental health workers in human services, can’t be filled because there is a shortage of available qualified people on the market. The county is forced to contract for the needed services. Other authorized positions are left vacant because a department does not have the funds to fill the spot. Five departments employ 80 percent of the county employees. Golden Age Manor is the largest department with its 150 employees, a staffing level regulated by the state and determined by the number of residents in the nursing home. Public protection has 75 authorized positions, including field officers, jail staff, and the communications team that staffs the emergency call center. Human services has some 72 positions, health has about 41, and highway about 38. Not included in these numbers are part-time and incidental employees. The other county employees are spread over some 15 departments, some of which have four or fewer employees. Small departments include the offices of the county clerk, treasurer, and register of deeds. Information technology, the county library, and veterans services

also have very small staffs. Polk County Forests, the smallest department, with no employees, is one of the few that makes money for the county. Paul Pedersen, the county forester, has a contract position and receives no health insurance or other benefits. Pedersen oversees timber sales, reforestation, and conservation within the county forestlands which are also used for hiking and hunting. In 2005, the county forests generated $26,236 of revenue for the county budget and $41,418 of that went to the towns containing county forestland. Five county employees, the county clerk, treasurer, register of deeds, clerk of court and sheriff, are elected and serve set terms for a flat salary set before their term starts. (The district attorney is also elected but works for the state.) The sheriff, who must seek reelection every four years to continue in the job, has a 2007 salary of $69,874 while the chief deputy has a permanent position with a salary of over $70,000. All other employees are hired by the county. Most county employees are represented by unions. The county and the unions have just agreed on new twoyear contracts that include 3-percent pay raises for 2007 and 2008. About 57 employees are nonrepresented, that is, not in a union. These are mostly department heads and supervisors but also include persons whose jobs involve access to confidential employee information. Thirteen of the 57 work at GAM. The yearly salary, not including benefits, for the nonrepresented group ranges from about $29,000 for a receptionist up to over $90,000 for some senior department heads with many years of seniority. What these people do In most cases the county provides services that the state delegates to the

counties to perform. The county owns and maintains over 300 miles of county highways and contracts with the state to service state and federal roads. The county provides public protection to areas not served by local police, operates the jail, and maintains the 911 emergency system used by all local services. The county keeps records of all land ownership and collects property taxes. The county regulates new land development and works to protect lakes and natural assets. The county protects at-risk citizens including the aging, juveniles and persons with mental health concerns. The county inspects restaurants and food stores. It offers help to expectant mothers. It coordinates elections. For the services that the county must provide as an arm of the state government, the county has the roll of prioritizing that service and deciding what can be done within the limits of available money. The county has operated under a state-imposed cap on the amount of property taxes that can be levied. That limit has led to a freeze on new, county-funded positions even though the need for some new positions has been recognized by county governing committees. There are some additional services that the county provides by choice and not by state mandate. This group includes the county library, the lime quarry, the nursing home and home help for seniors, among other services. The county boards look at each of these services when preparing annual budgets. The Polk County budget for 2007 is about $44.8 million. Of that, $17 million or 38 percent comes from property taxes, about a quarter of the tax bill. That $45 million gets the county the service of almost 500 employees and the services they deliver.

Benefit a big part of county pay Health insurance and retirement add to payroll cost by Gregg Westigard BALSAM LAKE – A Polk County employee earning $14.66 per hour, a sample wage for an employee, would earn $30,492.80 a year and have a much lower take-home pay after withholding deductions. That employee will cost the county $50,266.70 a year in wages and benefits, an increase of 64 percent over the base wage. The increase includes $13,629.60, the county’s 90-percent share of the health insurance cost for a family plan. The county also pays the total cost of the retire plan, 12.5 percent of gross wages for most employees or $3,811.60 for this person. Add the normal employer’s share of FICA, 7.65 percent or $2,332.70, and the county’s cost for this employee has increased $19,773.90 per year. The county is a service-intense entity, and personnel costs are a major portion of the $44.8 million county budget for 2007. That figure, drawn from finance department numbers released last fall, includes total outside revenues but does not include an estimated 2007 budget of $6.7 million for Golden Age Manor. Nonpersonnel costs include utilities, the purchase and operation of highway and sheriff’s vehicles and highway construction projects. The county was able to stabilize

health insurance costs for 2007 by switching its insurance provider and working on employee wellness. The annual cost of a family policy for 2007 is $15,144. A single policy costs $5,892. The county pays 90 percent of the premium or $13,629.60 and $5,302.80. Not all employees have a policy. Some get insurance elsewhere, and the county employs a few couples, saving one premium cost. (Two county board members are married to county employees and are covered by the county plan.) The county pays the total amount of the cost of the retirement plan. There are three rates for 2007. The cost for most employees is 12.5 percent of the gross wage. Elected officials have 12.4 percent of the gross wage, and the cost for the field officers and jail employees in the sheriff’s department is 16.2 percent. All these costs are in addition to the wages, not deductions. The pay scale for every county job is determined by a market study comparing the county wages to those of similar employers. A 2006 pay scale chart for nonunion employees shows 22 levels with starting pays ranging from $11 an hour to $40 an hour. There are eight step increases for each level. A new employee may be offered a starting wage higher than step one based on experience. The county does not offer merit increases. An employee advances up one step each year if they warrant the increase. Their supervisor can withhold a step increase but can not advance a person ahead by more than one step. A

senior employee reaches the top of their scale at step eight. Union contracts offer a slightly different, but similar, pay increase plan that may include raises for increased training. The county also offers annual cost of living adjustments. These are usually upward adjustments. Union employees receive a 3-percent increase for 2007 and 2008. The county board has given the same increase to nonunion employees for 2007. Thus, a Polk County employee can increase their pay in several ways. First is the annual COLA. Then is the step increase, if merited. Third is a possible market-study increase if a survey shows that a job category is under compensated. Lastly, an employee can move into a higher paying position. None of these rules apply to the elected officials. The salaries for the sheriff, county clerk, clerk of court, register of deeds, and treasurer are set by the county board before the start of the election period and can not be changed during the term of office. The same rule applies to the district attorney, a state employee, whose wage varies with the population of the county. For example, the sheriff has a four-year term. His wages will be $69,874 in 2007 and increase by a set amount each year through 2010 when the salary will be $78,599. There will be no COLAs, no overtime, no bonuses. The number of Polk County employees is hard to determine. There are

The cost for a sample employee This shows the county’s cost to employ a person, not their take-home pay for an employee earning $14.66 an hour Gross

yearly

salary

$30,492.80

County share -FICA – 7.65% 2,332.70 Retirement-12.5% of salary 3,811.60 County pays 100% of cost Health insurance/county share County pays 90% of cost $13,629.60 TOTAL

County Cost

$50,266.70

about 475 authorized full-time positions, including elected officials, but not all spots are filled. In addition, there are part-time and seasonal workers, and interns. County board members are paid for meetings attended, and the board chair receives a set stipend in addition. Government units, including school districts, are some of the largest employers in our area. Most have pay plans similar to Polk County’s.

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Town of SCF nominates full slate

Last meeting in the old town hall

by Gregg Westigard TOWN OF ST. CROIX FALLS â&#x20AC;&#x201C; The old Rooney School has lost another occupant. A school from 1873 until it closed in 1944, the building on Hwy. 8 at 200th Street became the St. Croix Falls Town Hall. Tuesday night, town residents gathered in the one-room building for the last time and nominated candidates for the spring election. Soon, the town government will move into another building just to the north, and the old building will be vacant again. The town of St. Croix Falls is expanding its board from three to five members by adding two new supervisor positions. In addition, incumbent Supervisor Alan Clark announced that he would not be seeking a third term. The nominating caucus drew 26 residents to select candidates for the April 3 election. Incumbent town Chair Bill Hughes will be the only candidate on the ballot for the chairman position. Steve Palmer was also nominated for the spot but withdrew his name after nominations were closed. Blair Klein attempted to place another name on the ballot, but town clerk James Beistle ruled that nominations could not be reopened. Conversations on the floor suggested that there may be a write-in candidate to challenge Hughes. The town has decided to expand to four supervisors, joining Clayton and Alden as towns with five-person boards. With two new seats and the open seat being vacated by Clark, the residents had the opportunity to select eight candidates for the April ballot.

Residents in the town of St. Croix Falls met in their old town hall for the last time Tuesday night to nominate candidates for the April election. The one-room building on Hwy. 8 was the Rooney School from 1873 until 1944. A total of 26 residents took part in an exercise in grassroots democracy. â&#x20AC;&#x201C; Photo by Gregg Westigard Twelve candidates for supervisor were placed in nomination from the floor. Joyce McKenzie withdrew her name, and the residents vote on which eight of the remaining 11 persons would be candidates. The candidates nominated for the April ballot were James Beistle, Scott Hansen, Mike Leehey, Dave Lundin, Mary Lynne McAlonie, Steve Palmer, Dave Robinson and incumbent Erick Vitalis. Frank Behning, Mark Thayer and Norvel Valleen were the other contenders. The candidates now have five days to accept the nomination. Hansen was the only nominee not present at the meeting. With the expansion of the board, the top-two candidates in the April election will gain two-year seats. The third- and fourth-place finishers will get one-year seats and will come up for re-election to a full term next year. After that, town voters will elect a chair and two super-

visors in the odd-numbered years and two supervisors in the even-numbered years. Towns have the option of expanding to a five-person board and must do so when they reach a population of 2,500. Lincoln and Osceola should reach that level with the next census. Continuity is a reason given for expanding the board and having annual elections. Towns now can have an entire turnover in an election, with no continuing members. The town of Clayton expanded its board after that happened in 2003. St. Croix Falls also had a complete turnover of officials in 2003. In its final action, the residents nominated the present treasurer, Maxine Spiess, for election to that position. She will be the sole candidate for the office. The town has gone through a number of changes in officials since the 2005 election. Two years ago, Beth Hughes was elected town clerk, and James Beis-

tle was elected treasurer, defeating Spiess. Later, Hughes resigned as clerk, and Beistle, who had been clerk until 2003, was appointed to fill that position and resigned as treasurer. The board then appointed Spiess to be treasurer. Last fall, the voters approved making the clerk an appointed position. That change will take place after the April election. Beistle has said he will not apply for the job. Town employee Janet Krueger says she is interested in being hired for the position. In summary, Hughes is running for re-election as chair and may have a write-in opponent. There may be eight names on the ballot for four supervisor positions. Spiess is unopposed for treasurer. The town board will appoint a clerk. And the town will move into a new town hall with a major improvement. The new hall will have an indoor bathroom.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 7

O L K H E A

C O U N D L I N E

T S

Pass it on, mentor a child! POLK COUNTY – Jan. 1, marked the launch of the sixth-annual National Mentoring Month campaign. The campaign’s goal is to recruit volunteer mentors to work with children who are at risk of not leading healthy, productive lives. Research has shown that introducing a mentor into a young person’s life can play a powerful role in preventing drug abuse and youth violence, while greatly enhancing a young person’s prospects for leading a fulfilling and successful life. By focusing national attention on the need for mentors, as well as how each of us – individuals, businesses, government agencies, schools, faith communities and nonprofits – can work together

to increase the number of mentors, we can assure brighter futures for our young people. Mentoring programs in communities across the country have waiting lists of young people seeking to be matched with volunteer mentors. If you’ve considered volunteering, why not take the next step? It doesn’t require any special skills… just an ability to listen and to offer friendship, guidance and encouragement to a young person growing up today. You’ll be amazed by how much you’ll get out of the experience. So, share what you know. Become a mentor. For more information, call Kinship of Polk County at 268-7980. – from Kinship of Polk County

New leadership at NWFFA

The annual meeting of the Northwestern Wisconsin Firefighter Association was hosted by the Centuria Fire Department on Jan. 18. Retiring president, Merle Larson (right) and vice president, secretary/treasurer, Rick Davidsavor (left) both of the Cushing Fire Department, turned over the reins of leadership to the new president, Duane (Duke) Krueger (center) from the Deer Park Fire Department. Not shown is the new vice president, Brian Fouks of Deer Park Fire Department also. – Special photo

City’s optinal oath of office questioned MADISON - The city of Madison’s new optional oath of office is drawing fire from the group that led the effort to pass the Wisconsin’s new constitutional ban on gay marriage. The oath allows more than 800 appointed and elected officials to sign an oath that says they will uphold the Wisconsin Constitution, but that they disagree with the gay marriage ban and will work to overturn it. Julaine Appling of the Wisconsin Family Research Institute, which worked to pass the gay marriage ban,

calls the city’s move arrogant and says she’s not sure it’s legal. She says her group is considering suing to block the new oath. But Madison Mayor Dave Cieslewicz calls the new oath both reasonable and legal. One appointee to the city’s board of park commissioners has already signed the new oath. Bill Barker says the marriage amendment makes bigotry legal, and wouldn’t have signed an oath that didn’t allow him to protest that. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Gil Halsted)

Andersen Foundation awards literacy organization $18,000 BALSAM LAKE — The Hugh J. Andersen Foundation has recently awarded Northern Waters Literacy a grant of $18,000. “This is much-needed money,” said Carleen Dahl Matosky, operations coordinator for Northern Waters Literacy; “Because we already work on an extremely small budget, services would be extremely limited if it weren’t for the generosity of the Hugh J. Andersen Foundation. I feel greatly indebted to them.” The Hugh J. Andersen Foundation, based in Bayport, Minn., focuses their support on the St. Croix Valley region including Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in Wisconsin and Washington County in Minnesota. Their mission is to give back to the community through focused efforts that foster inclusively, promote equality, and lead to increased

human independence, self-sufficiency and dignity. Northern Waters Literacy is based in Balsam Lake and serves a six-county area including Polk, St. Croix, Pierce, Burnett, Barron and Washburn counties. Their mission is to provide learner-centered literacy instruction that supports learners in their major life roles as family members, citizen/community members, workers and students. To learn more about Northern Waters Literacy, you can visit their Web site at www.northemwatersliteracy.org. To receive no-cost services in any of the six counties they serve, you can contact their main office by a toll-free phone number, 866-405-7323 or you can e-mail them at literacy@lakeland.ws. — from Northern Waters Literacy

PAGE 8 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

L e a d e r

We b Po l l

Last week’s question: Although it’s beginning to arrive now - have you missed having a lot of snow this winter? 1. Yes, for recreational reasons 7 votes (6 percent) 2. Yes, for economic reasons 5 votes (5 percent) 3. Yes, for sentimental reasons 11 votes (10 percent) 4. Yes, for all of the above 26 votes (24 percent) 5. No 60 votes (55 percent) This week’s question: If former Wisconsin Gov. Tommy Thompson runs for president in 2008, would you vote for him? 1. Yes 2. No 3. Maybe

J o e H e l l e r

F O R U M

Editor’s NOTEBOOK No. 1 - Health care costs

s the hottest political issue of the past 20 years - property tax - being overtaken by the cost of health care? New state Rep. Ann Hraychuck, along with veteran state legislator, Sen. Sheila Harsdorf, are pulling no punches as to their priorities as lawmakers for the coming year. And creating options for affordable health care for the masses is high on their lists. Democratic state Rep. Hraychuck, at her inauguration earlier this month in Madison, said affordable health care was the No. 1 issue she heard about when talking with people during her campaign this past summer. It’s one of the first things, she said, that she’ll fight for as their new state representative. Republican state Sen. Harsdorf also sees the issue among the most important, along with tax relief, reform of government, crime and education. The cost-of-health-care issue has been in the headlines for years. On the national level, Hillary Clinton is likely to prescribe her own treatment for a cure. It was an issue that helped carry her husband to the White House, even though he was unable to come through on his promises. Partisan politics have been blamed. Can she finish the job her hubby started? Sen. Harsdorf clearly outlined three proposals on the table at the state level regarding the quest for providing affordable health care to every citizen, despite the path looking hopeless at times. Of the three, the most promising at this time looks to be a Wisconsin Healthy Authority, something created by a task force appointed by Gov. Jim Doyle. Basically it would provide a reinsurance pool to cover the high cost, catastrophic medical care - the reason many seek health insurance at all. “By having the state government assume the costs and risks of serious injury or illness, insurers face predictable costs,” notes Harsdorf. “Predictable costs enable significantly lower premiums for employers.” And when pooled, costs of administration, it stands to reason, would drop. There are hopeful signs of creative thinking - obviously borne out of concerns by citizens and therefore politicians - beginning to surface. Russ Feingold and Mitt Romney, the latter a possible presidential candidate, have presented groundbreaking - or at least different - approaches to health care. It’s going to take Republicans and Democrats working together to make something happen. Some improvement - any improvement - will require compromise. A compromise that will be seen as a milestone. The cost of health care insurance remains a growing roadblock for young families and their vision of any American dream. Life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness obviously come with high premiums - but this basic security is being held ransom by unrealistic costs. And while the rising cost of health care has been justifiably explained, but sometimes it feels like a street thief is stealing our paychecks. It’s difficult to prioritize issues for anyone - but when one issue - through its affect on families - can directly affect other issues such as education - it needs special attention. And if constituent concern translates into legislative action - as suggested by Rep. Hraychuck’s statement - then this is the opportune time to blitz the quarterback on this issue. Translation for nonfootball fans: contact your legislators now.

All editorials on this page by editor Gary King

The Inter-County Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper: Since 1933.

W h e re t o Wr i t e

President George Bush 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. Washington, D.C. 20500 president@whitehouse.gov

Governor Jim Doyle 115 East, State Capitol Bldg. Mailing address: P.O. Box 7863 Madison, WI 53707 wisgov@mail.state.wi.us Congressman David Obey 7th Congressional District 2462 Rayburn Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20515 or Wisconsin office: Federal Building Wausau, WI 54401 (715) 842-5606 Rep. Ann Hraychuck 28th Assembly District State Capitol, P.O. Box 8942 Madison, WI 53708 Phone: 608-267-2365 Toll free: 888-529-0028 In-District 715-485-3362 rep.hraychuck@legis.state.wi.us

Rep. Frank Boyle 73rd Assembly District Room 221 North State Capitol P.O. Box 8952 Madison 53708 E-mail: Rep.Boyle@legis.state.wi.us

Senator Sheila Harsdorf 10th Senate District State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 (608) 266-7745 • (715) 232-1390 Toll-free - 1-800-862-1092 sen.harsdorf@legis.state.wi.us

Rep. Mary Hubler 75th Assembly District Room 7 North, State Capitol P.O. Box 8952 Madison, WI 53708 or 1966 21-7/8 St. (Hawthorne Lane), Rice Lake 54868 (715) 234-7421• (608) 266-2519 rep.hubler@legis.state.wi.us

U.S. Sen. Russ Feingold SDB 40, Rm. 1 Washington, D.C. 20510 or 8383 Greenway Blvd. Middleton, WI 53562 (608) 828-1200 senator@feingold.senate.gov

Senator Robert Jauch 25th Senate District Room 19 South State Capitol P.O. Box 7882 Madison, WI 53707 E-mail: Sen.Jauch@legis.state.wi.us

U.S. Senator Herb Kohl 330 Hart Senate Office Bldg. Washington, D.C. 20510 senator_kohl@kohl.senate.gov Congressman Ron Kind 3rd Congressional District 1713 Longwirth Office Bdg. Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-5506 888-442-8040 (toll-free) ron.kind@mail.house.gov

The crew of the Inter-County Leader in the late 1930s at a Centuria parade. Formed in 1933, the newspaper quickly expanded to Burnett and Washburn counties.

Cooperative: an enterprise or organization owned by and operated for the benefit of those using its services

The views expressed on these pages do not necessarily represent the views of ICPPA board members or employees

T h e

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JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 9

L e a d e r F O R U M C o m m u n i t y V O I C E S

Political

CORRECTNESS Common sense gone amuck?

as political correctness gone too far? Many people think that it hasn’t gone far enough, as politically correct language serves to protect people from those things that can be offensive or hateful. Opponents, however, say that it has gone too far, and people have forgone common sense for what is thought to be the common good. First off, if you think that celebrating a holiday in any way, shape or form could be offenNick sive to you or your religion, Proulx then don’t celebrate that holiday. Nobody said that you have to celebrate that particular holiday; nobody is putting a gun to your head and forcing you to celebrate Christmas, are they? Take for instance, the group of people who made a national issue over the fact that a teacher had a basket of eggs on his desk for Easter. It’s not as if there was a statue of Jesus on his desk. He had eggs, and as far as I know, eggs are not a Christian or religious symbol of anything. One school went so far as to say that they would no longer allow Halloween parties. They had to be politically correct by replacing these long-standing and beloved parties with fall festivals. Political correctness isn’t just limited to holidays; however, it has made its way into language as well. It is not OK to call somebody black; it’s instead African American. Instead of white, it’s Caucasian. Objects that were referred to as being pimped-out, aren’t correct; you must call them culturally responsive transportation options. It’s not OK to call somebody fat; to be polictically correct you have to say a person of mass. In order to be completely correct, you must change dishwasher to utensil sanitizer or janitor to sanitization engineer, or my personal favorite, psychopath to socially misaligned. Just as our very own Benjamin Franklin stated in 1730, “If all printers were determined not to print anything until they were sure it wouldn’t offend anybody, there would be very little printed.” Though the need to protect individuals from hate speech and other malicious language is important, Franklin makes a valid point in how far we take that particular notion. The point that I’m trying to get across is that people need to use their common sense when it comes to being politically correct. If you have a problem with something, that doesn’t make it alright for you to ruin everybody else’s holiday or take away their right to speak or believe in a certain way. Albert Einstein put it best when he said, “Laws alone cannot secure freedom of expression; in order that every man present his views without penalty there must be spirit of tolerance in the entire population.” Editor’s note: The author is a senior at Webster High School and a regular contributor to the school newspaper The Bridge.

Views from across the S t a t e

Resist temptation to abolish QEO

ersonnel costs consume most of a school district’s budget. When personnel costs increase, budgets increase and taxes increase. It’s not complicated, and it lies at the core of whether the state should lift a cap on teacher compensation. Since 1993, public school teachers in Wisconsin have been subject to the Qualified Economic Offer. The original QEO effectively capped compensation increases at 3.8 percent (school districts that offer less are subject to binding arbitration), but the law was later modified to accommodate advancements through the pay scale, which lifted the cap to

See State views, page 10

Parenting

simply an emotion. It involves sacrifice on our part as parents to do what is best for our children in the face of our own needs and desires. an. 17 was the anniversary of my mothLove requires us to give our children what er’s birth. She died a month shy of they need, not what they want. becoming 95. She was a good mother— Love makes the hard choices to deny ournot perfect in parenting, but perfect in her selves for the sake of our children. Love love for us. means we stand up for our children when When I was a shy toddler, she had to they are in trouble without excusing their answer all the questions people would ask me as I hid behind her, my face buried in her Carolyn behavior. Love means we make them responfor acting appropriately with friends skirt. But I listened to her response and I lisMarquardt sible and family. tened to her talk with her friends. When I was Loving our children enough to mold them a teenager, I resented my mother’s answering into responsible, caring individuals is an questions for me—but not enough to answer those questions myself. By that time she was fast on awesome task. When I see children helping their the draw answering quickly to keep me from being friends on the playground at school, I am seeing chilembarrassed by my shyness. When I grew up, I real- dren taught to be compassionate by their parents. Love also means that we cherish our children, givized how much I had learned from watching her converse with other people. She was a master at making ing them the confidence and security that comes from others feel comfortable in her presence. She provided knowing we care for them. Everyone born on earth the example for me to follow once I decided to step out deserves to be loved by someone and that someone should be his or her mom and dad. Every child of my shy shell. She also healed me from juvenile Alzheimer’s. In the deserves to feel safe coming home to parents who are dark ages when I attended public school, the mothers interested in their welfare, who are warm and tender rotated helping to serve lunch at school. Normally I with them, laughing with their joys and crying with walked home for lunch. But on the occasions when their sorrows. Every child needs to know that they are Mom’s rotation came up, do you think I remembered important to their parents. Children also need to know where they are headed her telling me, "Now, Carolyn, stay at school for lunch today. Don’t forget?" Did I remember? Not on your in life. Therefore, they need their parents to give them life. I skipped home, carefully avoiding cracks in the a sense of destiny. What can they accomplish with sidewalks and streets, to find an empty house. I knew their lives? With a sense of destiny children can what was coming. Mom drove up, honked the horn, accomplish something beyond themselves so that they and yelled for me to get in the car. She returned me, desire to be the best, most helpful person they can be. red-faced, to school to eat lunch all by myself in the Their job becomes their avenue of service to the comcavernous, empty cafeteria. I choked down the munity around them, not just as a way to make money spaghetti she served me and didn’t eat it again for to live on. Whether they become the janitor or the president of years. But I will admit her technique worked. She could have let me stay home and eat before returning the company, children with a sense of destiny feel the me to school. But instead she made me responsible for importance of their responsibilities, accomplishing them with grace and compassion. Knowing that the my forgetfulness. Mom was always home when we arrived from role they play is important and worth the work school, tired and hungry. She spent her precious time involved. Their self-worth is not bound up in the presdiscovering how our day went—what we learned, tige of the job but the in knowledge of a job well done. Parenting is a difficult, time-consuming task—at what were our joys and sorrows. We laughed and times scary. But if we provide our children with love played games together. She encouraged us in all our endeavors—dance and a sense of destiny, we are giving them the best lessons, music lessons, scouting and sports. She par- gifts possible. ticipated in PTA, politics, church and community Editor’s note: The author was introduced to community activities. She modeled motherhood to me, as hopefulservice by her parents, who participated actively in their ly I have to my children. Fathers are just as important in child-raising as church, schools and political events. She and her husband mothers. They provide a different kind of stability and of 38 years, Jerry, have five children, 11 grandchildren and nurturing. As they train their children to face a world one great-grandson. “We love living on Viola Lake in Burthat is not always kind and compassionate, they teach nett County. Before moving here I always lived in large city areas but tell my friends that it only took me a week to them to be strong in the face of trouble. Being a good parent doesn’t mean being perfect. It become a country girl. We have made wonderful friends in means giving our children the security of our love and the area both in our church and through the community a purpose to live for, a sense of destiny. Love is not activities that we participate in.”

S t a f f Icy runways, baggage lines... and a first grandchild

C O R N E R

at the cash register. Growers of cherries and several other crops were delighted with the cold temperatures which slow down the ripening process, something that is good for those types of crop. The weather held for driving to the airport from Siren on Monday, Jan. 1, as I headed for San Jose via Dallas, arriving just after 8:30 p.m. their time. I waited at the carousel for my two checked bags to arrive, waited and waited some more. After what seemed like a long time, all the bags dropped down from the lift, but my two were not among

raveling during the holiday season, and especially during the winter months, surely has its ups and downs. The Ups include the chance to get away from the rouNancy tine, often hectic pace of life, hopefully to a Jappe warmer climate. Many of us "oldsters" are eager to see this happen. The Downs, among them coming back when winter is not yet them. over, include problems with luggage retrieval and The line at the baggage counter was long, as other flights that are cancelled due to weather conditions. travelers realized that their possessions had not folI spent the first two weeks of January in Northern lowed them. I stopped an airport employee to ask if California, getting acquainted with my first birth there was any way the process could be speeded up. grandson, Mitchell David White, born Christmas Eve "Here is an 800 number you can call. You'll get the afternoon to son Chris and wife, Cathy. same information as waiting in the line," she said, Northern California at this time of year isn't a place handing me a printed sheet of paper. that promotes sitting out soaking up the sun's rays, Snagging the next taxi in line, I started on the way although I did spend one afternoon sitting out with to my relatives' house in San Jose, enjoying visiting the baby in front of the house. The newspapers with the garrulous taxi driver. As he turned onto the claimed that this was the third-coldest winter in those right street, his face lit up, remembering a fare he had parts since 1891. The orange, lemon and avocado picked up there just two days before. He had taken crops took the brunt of the weather, with temperatures going below the freezing mark for more than See Staff corner, page 10 four hours at a time (the danger point). We'll feel that

c o o p e r a t i v e - o w n e d

n e w s p a p e r

PAGE 10 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

L e a d e r Letters t o t h e e d i t o r Refreshing

Congratulations to Nick Proulx for the excellent article he wrote on Political Correctness in the January edition of The Bridge. What refreshment to read this young man’s opinions, on which too many adults have remained quiet...too long! Again, my congrats to Nick! Rita Luedtke Webb Lake Editor’s note: The column, by Nick Proulx, is reprinted with his permission on page 9 of this week’s news section.

Changing the world I believe St. Croix Falls should be the model for this country and erect 150 wind generators as soon as possible. I was told this is unsightly. I served in the army from 1965-68 and saw many tombstones of fallen soldiers. What is unsightly - wind generators or tombstones? Well, hear, hear!! Unsightly?? Are you kidding me? I’m amazed, given our current situation, that anyone would be that narrow-minded. If I drove down Main Street St. Croix Falls and saw 150 wind generators, I would think, “Wow, look how smart these people are, we should all be doing this.” Last month I changed all my lightbulbs, because as Mr. Anderson says, “it’s a start.” But that’s all it is, a start. What comes next? Forward? Backward? Stand in place and wring our hands? One of my favorite quotes comes from Margaret Mead. “Never underestimate that a small group of thoughtful, committed people can change the world, indeed it’s the only thing that ever has.” Laurie Juleen Frederic

Friends of Barrens

Whether you’ve visited the Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area to search for sharp-tailed grouse, train your bird dog, listen to upland sandpipers or observe the beautiful sharptail dancing displays, you know what a unique and special place this is. Through your own experiences at the Barrens you have seen the value of this unique habitat for wildlife, recreation and environmental education. It is easy to assume that the Barrens will always be there. Changing land use, the threat of invasive species, decreased funding and lack of public awareness are all reasons to be concerned about the future protection and management of barrens habitat and wildlife species. Burnett County has been gracious enough to lease approximately 5,000 acres of land to the Department of Natural Resources to protect and manage since 1957. Our management authority for the property expires with the lease agreement in 2017. At that time the county board will have to make the difficult decision on what to do with this valuable habitat. We invite you to become a founding member of the Namekagon Barrens friends group. This group will be a diverse group of people that all share an interest and appreciation of the Barrens and help to protect its beautiful landscape. Our first meeting will be held Thursday, Feb. 1, in the gymnasium of the St. Croix Tribal Center in Hertel, located just west of the Little Turtle Hertel Casino on Hwy. 70, from 6:30 – 8 p.m. Sandy Schmidt, current president of the Friends of Crex, and Scott Peterson, founder and organizer of Friends of the Bird Sanctuary, will be there to tell you about what their

friends groups have done. If we get a blizzard (more than just a little snow) on Feb. 1 making travel difficult, the meeting will be Thursday, Feb. 8, at the same time and place. Please join us for some yummy treats, good company and enjoyable conversation. If you cannot make the meeting but wish to be involved, please call me at 715-635-4091. If you know anyone else that might be interested, feel free to share this information. Nancy M. Christel Wildlife Biologist and Property Manager Spooner

Parents make the difference

There are many issues at hand that really need our input and involvement in our Siren Schools. I know that I am guilty of thinking that it’s the teachers and the school board’s responsibility to make the decisions for our school, but in reality it’s our kids going to school, so it is our responsibility to be involved with those issues that the school board addresses. Parents, we truly make the difference for our kids! So let it be our actions and our involvement that say we care and that decisions can’t be made without hearing from us first. Some of the issues that are of concern are as follows: There have been 14 full-time educational programs eliminated since 2004. Which obviously results in staff cuts. And five additional programs have been cut to part time. The school board is also contemplating the elimination of two principals. Nonrenewals have been given to these two principals already. The Sage Program is also at definite risk. This is a highly successful learning program for our kids. The benefits are lifelong, and the teaching techniques that this program offers have been very successful at Siren. We have been a great Sage example to other schools who have followed in our footsteps. Siren school has been regarded as a Sage “jewel” for this program. We do not want to lose it. The next school board meeting is Jan. 29, at 7:30 p.m. Let’s come together for those that mean the most to us … our children. Wendy Kosloski Siren

Lyme disease

To understand lyme disease, an understanding of lyme disease testing is imperative. On Saturday, Feb. 3, Lyme Action, Wisconsin (an informational resource group) will meet at the Bremer Bank building in Amery at 9:30 a.m. We will be examining Dr. Robert Bransfield’s list of 27 reasons people with lyme disease may not test positive. Abundant time will be allotted for questions, networking, sharing and supporting one another on the journey dictated by lyme disease. You need not be sick to attend; meetings are open to anyone interested in lyme and other endemic insect-borne diseases. Please mark Feb. 3 on your calendar now. You may want to add another date: Lyme Action has been asked by the Forest Lake Disease Support Group for assistance with a 5k walk/run scheduled for the morning of May 5 in Forest Lake, Minn. Proceeds from the event will fund research directed by the Minnesota Insect-Borne Disease Education Council. Volunteers, participants and a cheering section are needed. Marina Andrews Luck

F O R U M

Staff corner/from page 9 my aunt to a medical appointment. He remembered that her name was Jean and that she had worked at a bank. Amazing what a small world it is when you consider how big a city San Jose is. Trying to call the 800 number to put a tracer on my bags was a nightmare and a frustration. Call the number, and you got a bright recorded female voice asking when I had put in a report on the missing luggage. Ever tried to argue with a recording, and get the point across that you were on the line to file that report? When I finally got through that I wanted to speak to an agent, I was told to stay on the line and someone would answer in 23 minutes. Ever heard that one before? The message also warned that missing luggage reports had to be filed within four hours after the flight arrived. After 23 minutes had gone by, no one came on the other end of the line, and the call was ended by the telephone company. I tried again, went through the same frustrating process and was told a varying number of minutes (from 23 to 18 and back to 23 again) I would have to wait. The number of minutes changed each time I repeated the call. Finally I called someone at the main airport communications, who at least listened and took down my information. At that point, four hours warning or not, I gave up and went to bed. The next morning, my uncle took me back to the airport where I easily found my missing bags, in a room full of bags behind the baggage counter. Other people went without that night as well, and the excuse was, "So many people are traveling over the holidays." I have learned one big lesson about trying to communicate with a recorded message - just interrupt and say firmly and loudly that you want to speak to a person. Even computers don't ignore that request for long. (This didn't work for me as I tried to get my luggage back, but I have tried it since, with great success). Unfortunately on this trip, the out-

door hot tub and adjoining swimming pool at Chris's house didn't even get a consideration for use. They were set aside for future trips. But it surely was nice not have to worry about snow and ice, although the locals were alerted to expect snow cover at the higher altitudes. Ice came into play as my return flight time came closer. Dallas, the one stop along the way, was socked in by ice, creating dangerous driving and flying conditions. At the very time I was on the phone trying to check on my flights scheduled for Sunday, Jan. 14, the airline got notification that the flight from San Jose to Dallas for that day had been cancelled. Luckily, I was able to rebook the flights, at no extra cost because of the weather conditions, and made it safely back to Minneapolis/St. Paul airport, bags and all, Tuesday evening, Jan. 16. The only downfall - the outside temperature was at zero, a reality check to the fact that I was indeed back in north country again! P.S. The new grandson is a keeper. Everyone agrees to that, and tears came into my eyes as I kissed his little cheek goodbye. Hard to think of being a grandparent who lives half a country away. We've lost something in our expanded world - the closeness in daily living that families used to have in those days without our developing modernization.

My son, Chris, and grandson, Mitchell.

State views/from page 9 between 4.2-4.6 percent. The compensation caps weren’t conceived in a vacuum. They were paired with caps on local property taxes and school spending. Democrats, who made big gains in last November’s elections, are talking about repealing the QEO. Before taking that step, they should consider: Teachers still get compensation increases in excess of inflation. Compensation packages increased 4.29 percent statewide last year, which is better than most workers get (the QEO, in effect, acts as both a cap and a floor). While much of the increase goes to escalating health insurance premiums, teachers aren’t the only employees whose pay hikes are gobbled up by

Letters to the editor The Leader welcomes letters to the editor. Diverse and varied opinions are welcomed. Letters are subject to being edited for length, taste and/or clarity, and we urge writers to be brief and limit their letters to 500 words or less. Writers must provide their name and give their complete address and phone number. Content that will cause letters to be rejected include: Crude language, poor taste, disrespectful comments regarding a group’s or individual’s ethnicity, gender, religion, culture, sexual orientation or race; other incendiary language, poetry or personal attacks.

health care costs. The QEO hasn’t compromised teacher quality in Wisconsin. Teaching jobs remain economically attractive because they pay competitive wages, provide free health insurance and offer a generous early retirement package. Granted, it’s often difficult to find math or science teachers, but in most other disciplines, the supply of teachers exceeds demand. The QEO has been effective in restraining property taxes. State and local taxes consumed 13.5 percent of personal income in 1995 and had fallen to 12.2 percent by 2005. It’s no coincidence that 1995 was the year the QEO took effect. The Legislature could eliminate the QEO and keep spending caps in place, but that would result in massive budget cuts and regressive user fees. Are teachers unfairly singled out? Yes, but the solution isn’t to lift the cap on teachers, but to extend those caps to other public employees. Even under the QEO, the average teacher in Wisconsin earns $43,466, gets free (or almost free) health care, the chance to retire at age 55 (with health insurance), collective bargaining rights and a series of workplace protections and unionized grievance procedures that don’t exist at most private-sector employers. The QEO delivers dependable raises to teachers and delivers stable tax rates to property owners. It’s a law that should be expanded, not repealed. - Tomah Journal

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 11

The sanctity of human life This present week, Jan. 21 – 28, is called The Sanctity of Human Life Week. And with over 46 million abortions since 1973, this means that over 46 million people have been literally slaughtered in their mothers’ wombs. If there is going to be any way to stop the evil of abortion, it is not going to happen until people take seriously God’s view of the unborn. But the possibility of that happening is minimal as people choose to live in rebellion against God in attitudes and actions. Psalm 139:13-16 clearly presents God’s view of the unborn. This Psalm is first reflecting the omnipotent power of God in the miracle of conception all the way to the birth of a baby. The Psalmist David is using his own experience as he writes about the manifestation of this power. But, it is a clear message of God’s view of the unborn. David said, “You knit me together in my mother’s womb … I am fearfully and wonderfully made” (vs. 13-14). In other words, he is the product of God’s creative work in this mother’s womb. At the end of verse 15, he says that he was “skillfully wrought” or “woven together.” The meaning is “intricately made with care.” Abortion disrupts

L e a d e r F O R U M Letters t o t h e e d i t o r

God’s work of the unborn. The beginning of verse 13 days, “For you created [possessed] my inward parts.” This word “possessed” is from a Hebrew word in the Old Testament that often means, “to buy something, to acquire, to own something.” Thus, the unborn baby is God’s own possession. Therefore, because every abortion disrupts God’s work and destroys God’s possession, the judgment of God is someday going to be very severe for every doctor who performs abortions, for every politician, person and organization that seeks to keep abortion legal. An argument used to continue the legalization of abortion is a woman’s right to do with her own body as she pleases. But, not when it comes to abortion. The unborn child is not an “appendix” or a “tumor” or a “piece of tissue.” It is a baby being formed in the mother’s womb. Life begins at conception when two sets of chromosomes combine and development begins and continues uninterrupted unless interrupted by abortion. Even in the embryo stage of life, God’s eyes beheld David. He said, “Your eyes saw my unformed body” (v. 16). With that in mind, how do you think God looks at embryonic stem-cell research that destroys developing embryos? Think of the doctors, lawyers, teachers and factory and construction work-

Hraychuck named to three legislative committees MADISON – Rep. Ann Hraychuck, D-Balsam Lake, was appointed to serve on the following Assembly committees for the 2007-08 legislative session: Committee on criminal justice, committee on natural resources and committee on tourism, recreation and state properties. “I am very pleased and honored to serve on these committees and feel that they reflect the issues that are important to the people of the 29th Assembly District,” said Hraychuck. “Tourism is a central component to our economy in this part of the state, and I am hopeful that the work of the tourism, recreation and state properties committee will continue to strengthen and expand this major industry.” “We are lucky to live in such a beautiful state where we have access to great

hunting, fishing and excellent state parks and trails,” said Hraychuck. “The challenge is to find and maintain a balance that protects our pristine resources while continuing to build Wisconsin’s economy, an issue I look forward to discussing in the natural resources committee. As the only former sheriff currently serving in the state legislature, Rep. Hraychuck’s law enforcement experience will prove to be a valuable voice in the criminal justice committee. “I have spent over 30 years enforcing the laws of our state, and now I am excited for the opportunity to make the laws that will protect and strengthen our communities,” said Hraychuck. – from the office of Rep. Hraychuck

A r e a N e w s

Man faces trial in 1976 death

RUSK COUNTY - Rusk County Circuit Court Judge Frederick Henderson last Friday found probable cause to bind Roy E. Beaulieu over for trial on a second-degree murder charge in connection with the May 22, 1976, death of 63-year-old Laura Bruce. Judge Henderson set $100,000 cash bond for Beaulieu, 63, of Ladysmith, who is currently in the Rusk County Jail. He had been free on $100,000 signature bond prior to Friday’s preliminary hearing at the Rusk County Courthouse. No date for Beaulieu’s arraignment has been set. At that hearing the judge heard testimony from former Ladysmith Police Officer Dan Stoneberg, who responded to the call on May 22, 1976, when Bruce’s body was reported south of the paper mill; James B. Turner, who saw the defendant and Bruce together in a Ladysmith tavern the night of May 21 and later saw them walking in proximity on Worden Avenue; Ladysmith Police Lieutenant Allen Lobermeier, who interviewed the defendant on several occasions; and Dr. Michael Stier, the pathologist who performed a forensic autopsy on the exhumed body of Bruce on May 4, 2006. A medical autopsy performed on Bruce’s body in 1976 in Eau Claire failed to identify a cause of death, and a coroner’s inquest held in Rusk County in June of 1976 ruled that Bruce

came to her death “from causes or in a manner unknown.” The six-man jury found no evidence of foul play but recommended that the investigation be continued. Results from a forensic autopsy indicated that a bone in the victim’s neck was broken, something that usually occurs during strangulation. Jim Turner of Ladysmith testified that he saw the defendant and Bruce together at the Wagon Tongue tavern the night of May 21-22, 1976. Later that night he said he saw them walking eastbound on Worden Avenue. “I was driving in my car. They were walking,” said Turner. That was in the vicinity of E. 4th Street and Worden Avenue. He said Bruce had crossed the intersection and was about to go up on the sidewalk. Beaulieu was in the first half of the intersection, perhaps 25 feet behind her walking the same direction, according to Turner. The defendant, who was identified as a person of interest, was inter-viewed on seven different occasions, according to Lobermeier. The last was on Dec. 7, 2006. Lobermeier said the defendant said after leaving the Spot Cafe he met up with Bruce near the present Woodshed restaurant and walked past the old creamery to the railroad tracks. Lobermeier said Beaulieu told him he stopped to have sex with Bruce, but she said that place was too populated, and they walked the tracks east until they hit a V and went onto the spur. – Barron News-Shield

ers, moms and dads that will never be because they have been destroyed by abortion. May be a cure for cancer will never be found because God says, “You have aborted the one that I ordained to use to bring about a cure.” My heart goes out to the families who lose their loved ones in combat. The media lets us know about it. But the news media doesn’t bother to tell us each day how many unborn lost their lives through abortion. For instance, “4,000 babies lost their lives today through abortion.” They don’t do this because aborted babies mean nothing to the news media. Besides, all kinds of pro-abortion groups would be up in arms. Judges 21:25 sums it up when it says, “Everyone did what was right in his own eyes.” Pastor Merrill Olson Webster

Business loans It appears there is some misunderstanding about the Polk County Board’s recent decision to transfer its business revolving loan fund balance to a new Regional Business Fund, Inc. In an editorial last week, you asked “Should a seven-person committee in

Eau Claire be making loan decisions affecting communities here in Northwest Wisconsin?” The fact is that, under the new Regional Business Fund, the vast majority of loan decisions — for all requests up to $150,000 — will continue to be made within Polk County by a newly created county loan committee. Only larger requests will be referred to the Regional Business Fund board, which will include one member from each of the seven counties (including Polk) served by the West Central Wisconsin Regional Planning Commission. As you correctly point out, there is a large amount of money available to businesses at very reasonable rates. By moving to a regional model and “defederalizing” these dollars, the county board is convinced that we can realize more flexibility, streamline loan management procedures, reduce the number of restrictions as to how these monies can be used, and activate funds that are currently going unused. I urge anyone thinking of starting or expanding a business in Polk County to contact Economic Development Coordinator Mike Welch at 715-405-7655 for more information on the revolving loan fund program. Jeff Peterson Supervisor, Dist. 5 Town of Georgetown

The view from H ere War and peace Every family has one. So do most workplaces. When tempers flare, they stay calm. While others dig in their heels and develop long-lasting grudges, they forgive. When the silence of resentSteve Pearson ment has taken hold, they speak, choosing their words carefully. You know who they are - they create bridges of understanding, they transcend differences. They reach across party lines, across religious divides, across national boundaries. They are the peacemakers. Countries have peacemakers, too. In his last days before a massive stroke felled him, Ariel Sharon, he who had spent so much of his life making war, became one. Like many, he was silenced before his work was done. Jimmy Carter brought together Sadat and Begin, Egypt and Israel, during his third year in office. He showed them their mutual interest, helped them feel their common humanity. Peacemakers are facilitators, adept at finding common ground. They avoid aggressive words and deeds, but they aren’t weak. They take risks, often advocating for unpopular positions. They speak truth to power while answering that of God in everyone. They dare others to join them in their quest, they challenge and they cajole. They are not easily silenced. Peacemakers are not afraid to apologize. They aren’t saints, and they readily acknowledge their human failings. They are always willing to talk, and they prefer face-to-face encounters. They don’t hide behind weapons of war or bellicose rhetoric. They never demean those they don’t agree with. Listen to the words of Martin Luther King Jr. Though he opposed

the policies of Lyndon Johnson in Vietnam, he never attacked the man. Instead, he spoke of the ills of war and an economy that invests more in its weapons than it does in programs to help the least fortunate among us. Peacemaking is both art and science. Some among us are gifted at the art of peacemaking, are blessed with the just the right balance of masculine and feminine. While these individuals might not be able to articulate that balance, they act it out daily, reaching out to others, bringing smiles to the faces of even the grumpiest of grumps. They do so effortlessly, with no instruction, and are the envy of those around them. But there is a science of peacemaking as well. Peace studies programs have sprung up in many colleges and universities across the country. Courses of study focusing on conflict resolution and mediation that teach the principles of peacemaking are part of the academic life of many institutions of higher learning. Today it is possible for anyone to learn the basics of peacemaking in a structured academic environment. With these things in mind, it seems unfathomable that a government would not avail themselves of the art and science of peacemaking. It seems intuitively obvious that peace is preferable to war, that diplomacy trumps threats of violence every time, that when conflicts can be resolved without death and destruction, everyone wins. Unbelievable as it may seem, this great country we live in, a country that has stood as a beacon of freedom and opportunity to the oppressed all over the world, a country where the marketplace of ideas is rich and varied, is being run by an administration devoid of peacemakers. While they occasionally cloak their rhetoric in diplomatic language, our governmental leaders continue to stoke the fires of fear and threaten violence to those who don’t tow the line. It is no way to run a country. Can the world afford two more years of this madness?

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Festival Theatre to present Valentine’s “Love Letters” ST. CROIX FALLS - A Festival Theatre production in February? That’s right, Festival Theatre makes a departure from the past with a night of theatre to help celebrate Valentine’s Day and raise funds for the nonprofit, professional theatre. Since the holiday falls on a Wednesday, this performance event takes place on Saturday, Feb. 17, starting at 7 p.m. While the Valentine’s event includes several activities, the centerpiece is most definitely the performance, which will begin at 8 p.m. Though his critically acclaimed plays “The Dining Room” and “The Cocktail Hour” brought A.R. Gurney hard-won success, it is his graceful script “Love Letters” that earned him production credits in practically every corner of the United States. The play traces the lifelong correspondence of the staid, dutiful lawyer Andrew Makepeace Ladd III and the lively, unstable artist Melissa Gardner. The story of their bittersweet relationship gradually unfolds from what is written – and what is left unsaid – in their letters. A smash hit both off and on Broadway, “Love Letters” captures Ladd and Gardner with a precision of detail and depth of feeling only Gurney can deliver. “Love Letters” is timeless in its depiction of friendship, love, our struggle to discover what we’re good at, and to define our place in this world. It is a touching, funny, and tender reminder to cherish each day, each friend, each loved one. Starring in the Festival Theatre production of “Love Letters” are two of the Festival audience favorites: James Walker and Marilyn Mays. This dynamic duo first performed the play back in 1993, and folks are still

Marilyn Mays and James Walker from the 1994 Festival Theatre production of “Strangers.” — Photo submitted talking about it. Definitely one of their favorite scripts, Mays and Walker are eager to stage the play again, which they haven’t done since 2003.

Lead paint hazard info meeting set BURNETT COUNTY – The Wisconsin Business Innovation Corporation will be hosting informational meetings for town of Swiss and village of Siren residents who are interested in whether or not they have lead paint hazards in their places of residence. This program is directed towards middle- and lowerincome households (see chart below) where children under the age of 6, and/or pregnant women reside. This program is being funded by a grant from the Otto Bremer Foundation to be used in Bremer Bank communities. A certified lead inspector and risk assessor will visit participating eligible households to check for lead paint hazards and to suggest remediation and health precaution measures. In addition, a Burnett County Health Department representative will be present at the meeting to elaborate on the health effects caused by lead poisoning and where to go for help. According to the state of Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services, “lead poisoning, particularly in children, is a devastating phenomenon that is largely preventable”. In January 2004, the state of Wisconsin adopted the mission to eliminate childhood lead poisoning in Wisconsin by 2010. Children under age 6, and pregnant mothers (the unborn fetus) are the most vulnerable to the effects of lead. The data collected shows more than 3,000 Wisconsin children under 6 years of age were found to be lead poisoned in 2004. These were only the ones that were discovered! Lead interferes with the normal development of a child’s brain, resulting in a lower IQ and a greater likelihood of behavior problems like aggression, hyperactivity and delinquency. The program will focus on residences that were built before 1978. Homes that were built before 1978 have approximately a 50-percent chance of having lead-based paint surfaces. In homes built prior to 1950, the percentage rises to 90 percent. Lead paints were no longer used after 1978. There is more lead paint on the outside of most homes than on interior surfaces. Climate conditions in northern Wisconsin provide stress to these painted surfaces. Climate factors such as changes in temperature and moisture conditions and repeated cycles of freezing and thawing all contribute to paint failure and separation from the underlying substrate. Friction areas, such as windows being opened and shut, poorly fitted doors and heavily trafficked floors can also be a source of lead dust. Window sills may provide an inviting target for toddlers to play on and chew, which raises the potential for lead ingestion. It therefore becomes very important to address the potential contamination possibilities in these areas. In addition, homes with chipped lead-based exterior paint can be a source of lead to the soil in the area surrounding the housing unit. When children play in areas where paint failure has contaminated house dust or exterior soil, then normal hand-to-mouth behavior can be a source of lead ingestion and potential poisoning.

A further objective of the program is to attempt to provide access to home rehabilitation programs for households whose residences test positive for the presence of lead beyond state and federal safety guidelines. The chart below indicates the income requirements for this program: Persons Household Income Limits 1 persons $30,750 2 persons $35,100 $39,500 3 persons 4 persons $43,900 5 persons $47,400 6 persons $50,900 $54,450 7 persons 8 persons $57,950 To be eligible for this program, your gross income must be at or below the income limits shown. Priority will be given to the lowest incomes, homes built before 1978, and to households with children under the age of 6, and/or pregnant women. The informational meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in Siren, at the Siren Village Hall on Tuesday, Feb. 13, and at the Swiss Town Hall, Danbury, at 7 p.m., on Monday, Feb. 19. If you will be attending this meeting, or are unable to attend this meeting and would like further information, please contact Rick Schneider at 715635-2197. Additional support for this program is being provided by the Wisconsin Department of Health and Family Services and the Burnett County Health Department. – submitted

Asked why she’s in love with “Love Letters,” Mays replied: “I sat in the audience and watched Stockard Channing and John Rubinstein perform, and at intermission I did something I’d never done at a theatre before. I fled to the box office to buy more tickets — for different weeks — so that I could see other stars perform this near perfect play. Over the next weeks and months I also saw Treat Williams, Joanna Gleason, Coleen Dewhurst, Jason Robards and many others.” Co-sponsoring “Love Letters” are four local restaurants, each featuring special menus: Dalles House, Dam Bistro, Goochy Noochy’s, and Tangled Up in Blue. However, dessert is included in the fundraising ticket price at Festival’s Mezzanine Café. “Our partnering restaurants are taking reservations to ensure that patrons can arrive at Festival by 7 p.m.,” said Danette Olsen, director. “Our Valentine fundraising event includes gourmet dessert, a specialty beverage of choice, flowers, and the performance for $35 per person. Proceeds will benefit special building projects taking place this winter and spring in preparation for the 2007 Theatre Series. We have planned a fantastic evening for everyone looking for something special to do to celebrate Valentine’s Day.” Festival Theatre is located in historic downtown St. Croix Falls at 210 North Washington Street. For more information, to order tickets or join the Festival Theatre mailing list, call 715-483-3387 or 888-887-6002. You may also send an e-mail to info@festivaltheatre.org. - from Festival Theatre

Full Snow Moon Snowshoe Hike Feb. 2 GRANTSBURG - Kick off those winter slippers and strap on a pair of snowshoes! Crex Meadows Wildlife Area in Grantsburg is offering a snowshoe hike on Friday, Feb. 2. It is a Full Snow Moon Snowshoe Hike program starting at 6 p.m. and ending at 7:30 p.m. This is a family-oriented program starting inside to learn about the intricacies and properties of snowflakes, and then venturing outside to walk by the light of the full moon. Native Americans tied a name to each of the full moons throughout the year, the month of Febuary is known as the Full Snow Moon. Hot chocolate will be served after the snowshoe hike to warm up. If you don’t have your own snowshoes, there will be some available on a first-come-first-serve basis. Donations of $3/person or $5/family is appreciated. Preregistration is required. To find out more information and to register, call Carly at 715-4632739. – from Crex Meadows Wildlife Area

Sheriff tickled with new stuffed animals

Humane Society receives donation

Lore Quinn, director of the Humane Society of Burnett County, received a check from Pedigree dog food. As part of their adoption drive efforts, Pedigree is donating a portion from all their product sales to 4,500 animal shelters across the country that are participating in their ongoing shelter program. – Photo submitted

Corrine Root, junior graduate regent for Chapter 1819 Burnett County Women of the Moose, presented six Tommie Moose stuffed animals to Sheriff Dean Roland Tuesday morning, Jan. 23. “Stuffed animals (like this) are given out whenever there is a kid who is nervous, crying or needs help,” the sheriff said as he explained that his deputies carry the animals in their squad cars to use in soothing upset children. Oftentimes, the children pick the stuffed animal they want, and they get to keep the animal they picked out. – Photo by Nancy Jappe

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 13

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SCF Music Department plans 2008 trip to Calgary Chamber singers to tour state in April; Board adds three courses by Tammi Milberg ST. CROIX FALLS–The St. Croix Falls School Board met Jan. 23 and heard two presentations from music teacher Shawn Gudmunsen regarding music trips he proposed for students. Gudmunsen is the middle and high school choir director and requested a performing music tour for the band and choir students to Calgary, Canada, for the summer of 2008. The trip is extended by a couple of days, and is less expensive per student than the last trip the music department took to Walt Disney World, Fla. Gudmunsen stated that trip cost each student roughly $950 and the group was only permitted a 20-minute performance. He did some research and proposed a six-day, seven-night trip for about $150 less per student than the last trip. The trip is not mandatory and students would need to raise funds and pay for the trip on their own if they want to attend. Gudmunsen stated there are fundraising concert dollars, grants to apply for and anonymous donors as a means for helping the kids with expenses. “We want to make sure every student who wants to go can go,” said Gudmunsen. “This isn’t a trip just for the rich kids. It’s a chance for the students to perform outside of the Midwest, and the objective is to provide a worthwhile educational experience in the music field.”

The students attending this trip would be this year’s eighth-graders to the junior class or next year’s 9-12 graders. The Calgary trip includes performances in the parade and a concert at Minot, N.D., over the July 4 holiday, and a concert and parade in Calgary during their Stampede event. The music department’s first trip was in 1996 to Chicago. In 2000, students returned to Chicago, and in the years following made two trips to Florida. This trip to Calgary will be the fifth performance music trip for the district. The issue of passports was discussed and Gudmunsen stated they are required and that, along with other planning details, are reasons for the proposal to come to the board this early. The board approved the trip. Gudmunsen also proposed a performing tour for the chamber singers within the state. He stated the tour would take place April 27, 28 and 29, beginning in Chippewa Falls, going to Wisconsin Dells, over to DeForest, and the final performance would be in the rotunda of the state capitol in Madison. Gudmunsen said the trip is an alternative option for the chamber singers in lieu of the medieval banquet. The banquet was an annual event for the chamber singers to perform at the school, but Gudmunsen stated after reviewing ticket sales, the department has decided to hold the medieval banquet every other year to keep it “fresh for everyone.” The board asked if there would be any district costs associated with the trip and Gudmunsen stated the students would pay their expenses and the only district cost would be for a substitute teacher in his absence. Courses added

In other business, three new courses will be added in the curriculum choices for electives at St. Croix Falls. The courses, science, technology and society; music history/appreciation; and sociology were presented at the last board meeting for consideration. The board had a chance to review the course proposals and the matter was on the agenda for consideration. One concern about the science, technology and society course was the issue of evolution being a topic of discussion and how that issue would be handled. Brian Jacobson, instructor, informed the board at the last board meeting when he proposed the course, that it would be presented as an idea like any other without opinion. Before the board discussed the courses to be added to the 2007-2008 school year, a student addressed the board. Senior Emily Pfaltzgraff stated that she would like to see the course added and appealed to the board stating, “The board is not responsible for what we learn, but what we can learn. Mr. Jacobson’s class is very important.” She stated how at the last meeting, Jacobson gave examples of the male to female ratio of fish due to chemicals mimicking estrogen causing fish populations to have more females, and that could be one example in the course of something scientific that incorporates technology and society. “I did some research on a river in Colorado that has a 2-to-1 ratio of females to male fish,” Pfaltzgraff said. “Things like this impact our entire ecosystem. I realize there is a hesitancy for this class because it may involve evolution. Mr. Jacobson approaches a topic through all angles and doesn’t say what he believes one way or the other. I can’t even say for

sure what he believes.” Pfaltzgraff noted she has taken courses with Jacobson since her freshman year, and although she will not be able to take the class next year because she is a senior, she thinks it is something that should be available to students. “This class wouldn’t be about evolution or about science. It would be about thinking,” she concluded. Another positive mark came up for the sociology course proposed. High School Principal Pete Nusbaum presented the board with information provided to him by another student. A student independently conducted a survey of students, particularly juniors, and indicated 85 percent of juniors want sociology as an elective, and 96 percent of juniors felt there needs to be more social studies classes in course offerings. The survey indicated 60 percent of sophomores and 40 percent of freshman wanted the sociology course to be added. Board member Mona Schmidt stated when she had two children in school at St. Croix Falls, and as recently as 1996, it was difficult for her children to find offerings they were interested in signing up for each semester. “These three classes are good classes,” Schmidt added. “They are good options for students.” The board approved adding the courses with virtually little discussion on any of the subjects. The board also discussed hiring the head football coach. The board approved hiring Rod Sempf as the new coach, replacing the position vacated by the resignation of Keith O’Donnell. Sempf is also a middle school social studies teacher in the district.

Parking issues raised at TF meeting by Julie Holmquist TAYLORS FALLS, Minn. – A Taylors Falls business owner brought a parking issue before the city council Monday night. The business owner asked the council if the Park & Ride lot near her building could be moved to the city-owned parking lot behind the Conoco station so her employees could park in the current Park & Ride lot. During the public forum portion of the meeting, Barbara Anderson, owner of Barb’s Family Hair Care, 399 Bench Street, expressed concerns about her employees walking to the parking lot behind Conoco, citing concerns with safety and the darkness of winter. Employees of the business can not park in the city’s Marmon Parkway right next to Family Hair Care for more than three hours. The three-hour limit is intended to keep the lot open for customers. Cars parked longer than three hours are ticketed. Anderson asked if they could park in the Park & Ride lot, which is closer to the business than the lot behind the Conoco station. “I know my employees feel very unsafe,” Anderson said. “I want something to happen before someone is hurt.” Vice Mayor Ross Rivard told Anderson that the Park & Ride lot could not be moved because the state paid for a portion of the lot. “It has to stay there,” he said. “It’s part of the agreement (with the state).” The lot was created to ease Twin

Cities traffic congestion and is meant for car poolers driving to work in the Twin Cities. The parking lot behind the Conoco gas station is meant to be used by businesses and their employees. Parking there requires a free annual permit from the city. “You might have to walk a block or a block and a half, but it is lit the whole way,” Rivard said. The building housing Barb’s Hair Care is owned by Dr. Kirk Schmidt and the property has its own parking lot, but Anderson said using the stairs to access the lot is dangerous, and that employees have fallen in that property’s parking lot. Mayor Mike Buchite noted that the city has no control of a property owner’s parking lot, and that it’s up to the landlord to make the lot safe for use, with good lighting and sanded, cleared space. “Some businesses have no parking whatsoever,” he said. “Fortunately for you, you have five or six spots.” Council Member John Tangen noted that the three-hour limit in the Marmon Parkway lot was instituted at the request of business owners, who wanted space for their customers to park. Anderson also asked if police escorts would be possible for her employees leaving work in the dark. Schmidt, who was also at the city council meeting, said police just started ticketing in Marmon Parkway about 18 months ago and wondered if law enforcement could simply “look the

other way” during the winter months. Chisago County Corporal Shane Carroll said he began ticketing at the lot after he started patrol in Taylors Falls two years ago. “I’ve probably issued less than 15 tickets in that lot (Marmon lot) in two years,” he said. “At first I left warnings. I think I’ve been pretty fair.” He said providing escorts would be difficult, and that he doesn’t believe it’s unsafe to walk down Main Street to the parking lot behind the Conoco station. Buchite asked the council if they wanted to put the issue on the next meeting’s agenda, but none did. “If we contracted through the state, it seems we’d be held by the terms of the contract,” said council member Zara Kinnunen. “And I for one don’t want to ask the police to look the other way.” Planner resigns In other business, the council accepted the resignation of city planner Cliff Knettel. Buchite noted that Knettel emailed him with the request, noting time constraints and personal reasons for the resignation. “He’s not angry at the city,” Buchite added. The resignation puts the city in “a little of a pickle,” he said, because the new zoning ordinances are only half complete. Buchite, Rivard and city staff are meeting with a consultant this week, who might fill the city’s need. Buchite said he would bring more information to the next city council meeting. The council also approved a reduction of the letter of credit for Granite Ledge

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Development from $399,647.35 to $237,315.16. City Engineer Steve Heth said the reduction is acceptable because there will be enough funds remaining to cover 100 percent of the work that is still needed for completion of the project. A letter of credit gives the city financial protection in case work is not completed. The council also approved purchase of two computers with money earmarked for that purpose, and approved a training conference for city clerk Jo Everson. Red Cross Buchite also informed the council about an opportunity to partner with the Red Cross in what’s called Red Cross Community Challenge. The Twin Cities Chapter of the American Red Cross wants to partner with city leaders in 2007 to help citizens prepare for and respond to emergencies. The program would include reduced rates for local First Aid and CPR classes that the Red Cross would offer, free community presentations, First Aid and CPR training on-site at workplaces. The Red Cross would present schools and community centers with sessions dealing with fire safety, poison prevention, winter weather safety and disaster preparedness. Buchite said he will bring more information to the council at a future meeting for discussion.

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“Serendipity” brings vintage photos back to St. Croix Falls man ST. CROIX FALLS - It was a “eureka” moment for Rodger Meyer of St. Croix Falls when he spotted a 1936 HarleyDavidson motorcycle at a car show in Chippewa Falls last summer. “It was the same bright blue color as the one I owned almost 60 years ago,” Meyer wrote in a letter to the Leader. Meyer had been taken to the show by his son, who realized his father still had a passion for vintage wheels. When his son saw an article in the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram featuring the Antique Motorcycle Club of Chippewa Falls, he sent it to his dad. That article inspired Meyer to write a letter to the club’s president describing his “escapades” with the old Harley, circa 1948. The editor liked his story and called him to ask permission to publish it. “Several days later I got a call from a member reader who told me that he was the owner of the ‘36 Harley I saw at the show,” Meyer noted. “I had written that I didn’t have a photo of it and he told me he would take a couple photos of his Harley and send them to me.” Meanwhile another club member called from Forest Lake, thanking Meyer for his story, saying he owns several antique motorcycles, one of which is a ‘37 Harley. “When I told him our daughter lives near Forest Lake, on Kettle River Boulevard, he said ‘Well, so do I,’” Meyer noted. “I’ll be looking forward to visiting him and his collection.” Meyer said he must have “sent out powerful brain waves” while thinking about all this because it wasn’t long before a cousin in Seattle sent him old photos he had taken while living with him in Jim Falls. “It was my second ‘eureka’ moment when I saw the photo of my two best friends clowning around in my Model T and, of course, the photo of my cousin and I sitting on the Harley.” The photos were taken on a cold spring day. Meyer was wearing his prized “Jodpur” riding boots that another cousin had sent from England during WWII. “Unfortunately the photo also includes our old white outhouse in the background,” wrote Meyer. “I think we had indoor plumbing by then, but it did bring back memories of freezing butts and things. That thought reminded me of frozen eyeballs due to riding on early spring days.” The photos shows Meyer’s Model T on the very day he sold it to a farm

friend, who is shown in the photo on the crank as his two best friends pretend to help start the car. “It seems like eons ago I wrote a story about my Model T for the Minneapolis Tribune,” Meyer wrote. “Jim Klobuchar put it in his daily column and had to write an apology story later to the Twin Cities Model T club. Since I was driving an old worn out car, most of my experiences were negative and it didn’t please those folks with like-new, restored cars.” “I once criticized my mother for not having any pictures of my best friends, my motorcycle and my first car, a ‘26 Model T Ford touring car,” Meyer states. “Now I criticize my wife for taking too many pictures, but our kids won’t lack for photos.” When he wrote his memoirs for his children, Meyer said he felt sad for not having photos of the people and things he wrote about. “Now they’ll have a couple of them, thanks to cousin Lloyd and serendipity,” he said. - Gary King with information from Rodger Meyer Rodger Meyer (R) and his cousin, Lloyd, pose on Meyer’s 1936 HarleyDavidson motorcycle. - Special photo

Junior Baldwschweiler cranks the engine of Rodger Meyer’s old Model T Ford while Mickey Carrell and Harold Cohen pretend to help get it started. The car was not pristine, however, the girls sure liked it, recalls Meyer. - Special photo

Governor OKs airport project CUMBERLAND – Gov. Jim Doyle has approved a $161,563 project to construct a new terminal building at the Cumberland Municipal Airport. The governor’s action releases $4,039 in state funds to replace the existing, deteriorated airport terminal building. The city of Cumberland is contributing another $4,040, with the Federal Aviation Administration providing $153,484.

“Maintaining our airport facilities is key to keeping Wisconsin’s transportation infrastructure poised for future economic development,” Gov. Doyle said. The governor’s Grow Wisconsin plan calls for strategic investments in the statewide transportation network to spur economic growth. The grant allows for replacement of the existing building, which lacks ade-

Soccer registration set ST. CROIX FALLS - St. Croix Falls soccer registration will be held Tuesday, Feb. 6, from 5 to 8 p.m. and Saturday, Feb. 10, from 9 a.m. to noon in the St. Croix Falls High School library. The sport is open to boys and girls

ages 5-1/2 to 18. U-12 and up will be gender specific. Volunteers are needed. For more information contact Kim Swawicki at 715-646-1414 or Marnie Bergmann at 715-646-2113. - submitted

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quate meeting, office and storage space, according to Craig Butler, airport engineering specialist with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The building shows signs of its age. The new building will replace obsolete equipment, improve insulation quality, replace drafty windows, improve the overall size and provide a more functional layout.

Facilities at the Cumberland Municipal Airport include a 4,042-foot paved runway and a 2,000-foot turf airstrip. There are 15 aircraft based at the airport and approximately 11,000 aircraft takeoffs and landings each year. - from the office of Gov. Doyle

Luck teacher contract finalized by Mary Stirrat LUCK — The Luck School Board of Education Monday night approved final execution of the 2005-07 master agreement with the teachers union, providing a 4.6-total-package increase for each of the two school years. The salary portion of the increase amounts to 1.5 to 2 percent, said district administrator Rick Palmer, with increased health insurance and retirement benefit costs taking up the remainder.

The increase is retroactive to July 2005. Also included in the new contract are several languages. Most significant is a clarification of teacher duties, particularly regarding assignments and advisorships. In addition, a cross-country coach was added to the salary schedule, and the process for getting a freshmen team started was included.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 15

Burnett County accidents

Eric E. Hamer, 18, of Shell Lake was traveling south on Long Lake Road Jan. 20 in the town of Webb Lake when he lost control negotiating a curve, hitting a tree. He sustained minor injuries to his right hand. – Photo courtesy Burnett County Sheriff’s Department

Larry A. Graf, 27, Frederic, was traveling west on North Fork Road in the town of Wood River when he lost control negotiating a curve, hitting a tree. The driver sustained injuries to his face. Three citations were issued. – Photo courtesy Burnett County Sheriff’s Department

Badger Band coming to Amery

HSAs pushed by lawmaker CHIPPEWA FALLS - A lawmaker, who spent 17 years in the health care industry, wants more people to see the advantages of health savings accounts. HSAs are used by those who pay lower insurance premiums in exchange for a high deductible. Rep. Terry Moulton, R-Chippewa Falls, says the bill he’s co-authoring would make HSAs tax exempt at the state level. Moulton says right now, they’re only tax exempt at the federal level. Moulton’s similar legislation last year was vetoed by the governor, because it was not part of comprehensive health care reform. Under HSA rules, a single person can contribute up to $2,700 a year to an account. Families can contribute up to $5,400 a year. The money can only be used for health-related expenses. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Mary Jo Wagner)

The University of Wisconsin Badger Band will perform in Amery Sunday, Feb. 25, at 3 p.m. at the Amery High School gym. Advance tickets available: $8 for seniors (60+) and students (4-18), $10 for adults. All tickets will be $12 at the door. Tickets available at Chet Johnson Drug, Bremer Bank, S & C Bank and WESTconsin Credit Union in Amery or by sending payment and ticket request to Amery Community Education, 543 Minneapolis Ave., Amery, WI 54001. The University of Wisconsin Band was organized in 1885 under the direction of F. O. May, and since that time has established a most enviable reputation of performance. The band annually appears before thousands at Camp Randall Stadium and millions via national television, and has traveled extensively from coast to coast. The band receives widespread acclaim for its innovative shows, precise playing style and intense energy. The spirit of this famous unit is one of the keystones of the band’s success, and the band’s enthusiasm could be considered the embodiment of school spirit at Wisconsin. Check out www.badgerband.com. This show is sponsored by Chet Johnson Drug, Cardinal Glass-LG, Clear Choice Printing, Bremer Bank, S & C Bank, WESTconsin Credit Union, the Amery Band Boosters and Amery Community Education. - Special photo

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

7 th Congressional District Providing a new direction for America in the first 100 hours of the new Congress Last November, the American people made clear their desire for a new direction for the country. They voted for the restoration of checks and balances, greater integrity in Washington, a Congress that addresses the concerns of working families - like health care and education - and an economy that works for all Americans, not just the privileged few. In the first 100 legislative hours of the 110th Congress, the new Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, put together a series of measures that were meant to send a signal that Congress is moving in a new direction and is being run by people with a different set of priorities priorities that put the needs of average working people ahead of the economic and political elites. In the first two days of the Congress, Jan. 4 and 5, we adopted a package of rules reforms that were based in large part on a measure I introduced last year with my colleagues Barney Frank, DMA, David Price, D-NC, and Tom Allen, D-ME.

The reforms are meant to restore checks and balances to the legislative process and make it harder for special interest lobbyists to put their fingers on the legislative scales. Dave They represent a major sea change Obey in the way business will be conducted in the Congress. To prevent more boondoggle golf trips to places like Scotland, the rules restrict lobbyists from organizing, financing or participating in member travel and prohibit member travel on corporate jets. To protect the country from situations like the “15 minute” vote on the Medicare Prescription Drug Bill that ended up lasting three hours - from 3 a.m. to 6 a.m. - before the Republican leadership twisted enough arms to pass the bill, the rules ban the practice of holding votes open to change the outcome. To ensure the full review of proposals, like the sweetheart deal for the pharmaceutical companies that was

slipped into a defense bill after the conference committee had already agreed on the final measure, the rules ban “dead of night” special interest provisions from sneaking into conference reports without a vote. And to reform the earmark process, the rules require all members to certify that they have no financial interest in any requests they make, and all committees must list all earmarks included in a bill or report language with the identity of the sponsor. The rules also stipulate that earmarks can not be used as a carrot or a stick to influence how members vote. With the remainder of the first 100 hours, the House passed six measures, with significant bipartisan support for each, that are intended to show where this Congress’ priorities will be. We passed a measure to increase the federal minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour. Right now, when adjusted for inflation, the federal minimum wage is at the lowest level it has ever been, and an average CEO makes more before lunch on the first day of the year than a minimum wage worker does working full time all year long, so increasing the minimum wage simply returns a little fairness to our economy. We approved a bill that would eliminate the outrageous special interest

deal that prohibits the federal government from using its purchasing power to negotiate for lower drug prices, and we passed a measure that would expand federal funding for life-saving embryonic stem cell research to improve health care. The House passed a bill that would begin to cut the interest rate on student loans to help make college more affordable for working families. We approved a measure that rolls back $14 billion in subsidies to Big Oil companies and invests those funds instead in clean, renewable energy resources and alternative fuels to increase our energy independence. And the House adopted my bill, which responds to the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission by reforming and strengthening Congressional oversight on intelligence operations. These are modest proposals that are intended to set the stage for what comes next as we struggle to deal with ending the war in Iraq and try to build a consensus that will allow us to reform our health care system, make college education truly accessible for all, and overhaul trade practices that threaten the livelihood and well-being of American workers.

Co-op hockey renewed at Luck by Mary Stirrat LUCK —Monday night the Luck School Board renewed Luck’s cooperative hockey venture with Burnett Youth Hockey, approving a two-year agreement to continue the co-op. Rebecca Harlander, president of Burnett Youth hockey Association, and Tom and Tammy Close, members of the Blizzard Blue Line Hockey Club, the booster club that supports the co-op, attended the meeting to discuss the sport and ask that the agreement be renewed. Close’s son, Travis, is an 11th-grader who plays with the Blizzard team. Another Luck student, 10th-grader Noah Thatcher, also plays. “They’re very happy Luck has allowed him to, through the co-op, to skate with us,” said Harlander about the parents. One major change in the contract for the WIAA-sanctioned co-op is that Grantsburg has become a full partner. “Grantsburg has now come on board with us fully,” said Harlander. “Next year we’ll be having some varsity boys

and girls hockey games at Grantsburg.” Grantsburg and Burnett Youth Hockey will be splitting the cost of the program equally, she said. Several young players from Luck are coming up through the ranks, according to Harlander. “I’m very happy with the arrangement,” said Luck athletic director and high school principal Mark Gobler. “I’ve not had a complaint. The kids have been very responsible.” Practice will continue at Siren, even when the Grantsburg rink is used for games, according to Harlander. “It appears we have a good chance of hosting both the girls and boys playoffs in Siren,” she added. Mill rate comparisons District administrator Rick Palmer gave a breakdown of area mill rates, with Luck coming out on the low end. The mill rate determines the property tax rate assessed to property owners in the district. According to a survey by CESA #11,

Tech schools note record number of minority students

STATEWIDE - The Wisconsin Technical College System says it has achieved a record number of minority graduates. Last year, nearly 2,700 students of color completed a two-year degree, compared to just over 1,300 in 2001. Administrators say this latest batch of graduates makes up 11 percent of all system graduates. Spokesman Kyle Schwarm says part of the reason is that the state’s population has simply become more diverse. Schwarm adds administrators have also become better at finding students who would best

prosper in a technical college environment. The biggest increases were seen among Hispanics and Asian-Americans, although African-American and Native American students still saw significant gains. Schwarm says it’s also helped to have personal and educational support systems in place for minority students, to help keep them on the attendance list. – Wisconsin Public Radio (Brian Bull)

Disaster training set at tribal center HERTEL – The American Red Cross will conduct a Disaster Action Team training class at the St. Croix Tribal Center on Tuesday, Feb. 13, from 1 to 4 p.m. The class is free of charge and open to the public. The training prepares volunteers to respond to the needs of

victims in the event of a local disaster such as house fires and floods. To register call 715-349-2195, ext. 5143 and speak with Emergency Management Coordinator Carol Buck or email carolb@stcroixtribalcenter.com. from American Red Cross

Luck’s mill rate is 7.77, compared with a state average of 8.1. Among surrounding schools, Amery is at 8.7, Frederic is at 10.5, Grantsburg is at 8.6, St. Croix Falls is at 8.1, Siren is at 9.7, Webster is at 5.0, and Unity is at 7.3. Both Webster and Unity, noted Palmer, have extremely high property values compared with the other districts. Total value of property in the Webster district is $1.4 billion. Unity’s is at $1 billion, while Luck is about onethird of that, at $337 million. “They get very little, if any, state aid,” said Palmer about Webster, “but their mill rate is still quite low.” Other business • The shared-services agreement with CESA #11 was approved, at an amount $13,000 less than last year. Palmer emphasized that some of the services cut from the agreement at this time, including onsite consultation for federal programs and some special education items, may be purchased back later. • Administrator Rick Palmer reported that the showers in the boys locker

room are fixed, but tiling still needs to be finished. “We now have 14 showers that actually work,” he said. • Palmer reported that teacher Dean Rousch was in a “fender bender” with the school’s white van. He was rearended at a stop sign, with damages between $1,980 and $2,000. No students were on board at the time. • Jan. 22 was a teacher in-service day. High school principal Mark Gobler reported that the high school teachers toured the Polk County jail, focusing on security technology, and had a demonstration on the pre-ACT testing program. Elementary principal John Nichols said that the elementary teachers did curriculum activities, particularly reading and reading assessments, as well as a needs assessment. • The board voted to renew the wrestling co-op. Six Luck students are involved at this time, but there are 26 in the middle school program. • Jenn Nelson and Aimee Jorgenson were hired as co-coaches for 7th grade girls basketball.

Series continues with weed management and raising healthier dairy and beef calves SPOONER — Alternative Weed Management for horticulture and vegetable crops will be the focus of a workshop on Friday, Jan. 26, from 10:30 a.m. until noon at the Spooner Ag Research Station. This is the second topic of a four-week Northern Safari of Ag Specialist series sponsored by UW-Extension. Jed Colquhoun, UW-Extension Weed Management Specialists, will present Common Weeds; Uncommon Solutions. The session focus will be on weed management practices for horticulture field crops and market gardens. Colquhoun will discuss primarily horticultural and vegetable crop weed management practices. Managing for Healthy Calves in Dairy and Beef Herds is the focus for the Friday, Feb. 2 session. Dairy and beef producers are encouraged to attend. This is the third topic of a fourweek Northern Safari of Ag Specialist series. Dr. Larry Baumann, Extension veterinarian from UW-River Falls, will

be the guest speaker for this program. Learn how to reduce scours, pneumonia and other diseases in calves with proper vaccinations, colostrum management, feeding, sanitation and housing and get calves off to a good start. The final seminar in the series at Spooner will take place the following Friday, Feb. 9, at 10:30 a.m. and is entitled Harvesting Alternative Energy. Dr. Pat Walsh will discuss trends and possible opportunities for on-farm energy production and use. All seminars will be held at the Spooner Ag Research Station on Fridays from 10:30 a.m. until noon. There is no cost for these programs, and they are open to the general public. Preregistration is requested but not required. For more information contact Kevin Schoessow or Otto Wiegand at the Spooner Area UW-Extension Office at 715-635-3506 or 800-528-1914. — from UW-Extension

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 17

WISCONSIN S THIRD-BEST WEEKLY SPORTS SECTION - GROUP A - 2005 WNA AWARD WINNER

I N T E R- C O U N T Y L E A D E R

P O R T

F R E D E R I C • G R A N T S B U R G • L U C K • S T. C R O I X F A L L S • S I R E N • U N I T Y • W E B S T E R

Tigers tie up West Lakeland Conference! Webster pulls off win in front of capacity crowd at the Jungle Webster 39, Luck 38 by Matt Blumkin WEBSTER – For the second week in a row, Tigers Coach Randy Hedrick had to say along the lines, “It’s what high school sports are supposed to be.” Hedrick had made a similar comment the week before following their win over Grantsburg, in Grantsburg, on Jan. 12. The Tigers roared into the following week. On Jan. 19, the Tigers pulled off a onepoint victory over the Luck Cardinals, 39-38, in a battle of the West Lakeland’s top two teams. The Tigers tied the Cards for the conference lead with their control of the tempo and their inside play. “The key was Brian Gibbs,” said Hedrick about their game tempo. “He’s the guy who’s always looking to me and wants to know what he’s supposed to do.” Gibbs set up the half-court sets, and the Tigers took their time on their possessions to find inside shots in a 24-22 game through three quarters. Oftentimes, that shot came from Paul Olesen, who bruised the Cards inside. Olesen had 13 points in the ballgame. He slashed through the Cards defense Team Luck Webster

1 2 3 4 5 8 9 16 12 15 6 6 Individual Statistics Luck 2s 3s FTM/A 0 1/1 Brennan Olson 5 1/1 1 0 Mike Christensen 3 0 1/6 Travis Pilz 4 0 3/3 Cody Richert 0 3/3 Mitchell Klatt 2 Tyler Petersen 0 0 0/0 0 0 1/2 Adam Wallin 0 7/16 15 Totals Webster Peter Walsh Brian Gibbs Paul Olesen Brian Thill Kevin Ingalls A.J. Holmquist Totals

2s 0 4 5 5 1 0 14

3s 0 1 0 1 0 0 2

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 3/5 0/2 0/0 0/0 3/7

Paul Olesen, Mitchell Elliott (no. 14) and company celebrate following their 39-38 win over Luck on Friday, Jan. 22.

Extra Points

F 38 39 F 2 3 3 2 2 2 3 15

TP 11 3 7 11 11 0 1 38

F 1 3 2 4 3 1 14

TP 0 11 13 13 2 0 39

Webster’s Paul Olesen battling under the basket as he did many times against the Luck Cardinals on Friday, Jan. 19. Olesen scored 13 points for the Tigers including a game-clinching layup and free throw, which put the Tigers in front 39-38. The Tigers and Cards now sit tied atop the West Lakeland Conference. – Photos by Matt Blumkin

Brian Thill pulling down a board against the Cardinals. Thill had 13 points in the Tigers’ winning effort.

often, and had key buckets down the stretch. “He always steps up in clutch times,” said Gibbs. In the fourth quarter, he had nine points. He muscled his way for a basket and a trip to the free-throw line early in the quarter, which put the Tigers up, 2724. Brian Gibbs followed that up with a 3-pointer, and the Tigers roared ahead by four, 30-26. “Sometimes, you’re amazed at what he can do,” said junior post player Brian Thill. Olesen had a couple more layups later to break a 32-32 tie and pulled the Tigers within a point, 37-36. Cards guard Cody Richert had hit a shot, drew a foul and nailed a free throw to give the Cards a three-point cushion with under a minute to go.

Coach Hedrick called for time after another Cards possession, and he had the ball go to Olesen. “I said, ‘hey, we’re going to get the ball to Paul,’” said Widiker.“ He does exactly what a senior is supposed to do.” Olesen took the ball down the lane for a layup and drew the foul and tied the game 38-38. Then, he nailed the free throw as the crowd roared. “I knew if I got to the line, I’d have a chance to win the game,” said Olesen. “We just had to finish up and play defense after that.” They did just that as the Cardinals could not convert with 11 seconds remaining as they got tangled up inside the lane, and the Tiger faithful erupted in jubilation and stormed the floor to celebrate with their team. “It was amazing, that’s all I can say,” said Thill.

••• ST. CROIX FALLS – Rod Sempf will replace longtime football Coach Keith O’Donnell for the Saints next season. The St. Croix Falls school board announced Sempf’s hiring at their Jan. 23 meeting. – Matt Blumkin ••• BALDWIN-WOODVILlE – Former Webster native, Marcus Helland, reached his 1,000-point milestone against Ellsworth Friday, Jan. 5. The Blackhawks defeated Ellsworth 55-44, and maintain a Division 2 record of 10-1. – Marty Seeger ••• Nancy BEMIDJI, Minn. – McConkey, a former Webster student, returned to her old form as an effective scorer and rebounder for the Bemidji State Beavers on Jan. 19 and 20. She had nine points, and seven rebounds in the Beavers’ 79-66 win over Upper Iowa on Jan. 20. Yet, her 19-point and six-rebound effort against Winona State could not get the Beavers a “W” as the Warriors edged the Beavers 67-66 on Jan. 19. – Matt Blumkin ••• BEMIDJI, Minn. – One-time Webster student Emily Brookshaw and the Bemidji State Beavers came back to earth as they saw their six-game win streak get snapped by the MinnesotaDuluth Bulldogs on Jan. 20 and 21. Brookshaw stopped 23 shots in their Jan. 20 loss 5-0. On Jan. 21, she had 30 saves, but the Beavers lost an early 10 lead and fell 3-1. – Matt Blumkin ••• LEADER LAND – Leader Sports strives to follow the college careers of area athletes. If you know of an athlete from the area that’s competing in collegiate athletics and not mentioned on these pages, please give us a call or send us an e-mail. We’ll take it from there! – Matt Blumkin and Marty Seeger ••• LEADER LAND – Leader Sports wants to recognize the top boys and girls basketball scorers in the area each week. Coaches, please send the total points for your top scorers each week by Tuesday at noon, and we’ll include them in our Leader Board! – Matt Blumkin and Marty Seeger

SPORTS RESULTS DEADLINES: WEDNESDAY - MONDAY: 1 p.m. the following business day. TUESDAY: 7 a.m. on Wednesday. Missed deadlines mean no coverage that week! S P O R T S N E W S O R S C O R E S T O R E P O R T ? • P H O N E : 7 1 5 - 3 2 7 - 4 2 3 6 • FA X : 7 1 5 - 3 2 7 - 4 1 1 7 • E - M A I L : m b l u m k i n @ c e n t u r y t e l . n e t o r m s e e g e r @ c e n t u r y t e l . n e t

PAGE 18 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Siren’s Caitlin Flanigan reaches 1,000

Despite the pressure, Caitlin Flanigan hits 1,000 career points Siren 65, Unity 21 by Marty Seeger SIREN — “It just adds to the fun and excitement of being in basketball, and to go through it with teammates and best friends, its just good, it’s great,” said Siren’s Caitlin Flanigan, who reached a career high of 1,000 points Friday, Jan. 19. Although Flanigan makes scoring look easy, she needed 22 points against Unity to reach 1,000, and to say there wasn’t any pressure would be an understatement. Announcements circulated across the loudspeaker at the school earlier that morning and throughout the school day, which didn’t help calm the nerves of Caitlin’s mom, Bev. “I was a nervous wreck all day today, and I work at the school so I heard the buzz all over school all day, and all I could think of was “Oh my poor kid” with all this pressure, and she handled it really well and went about her day. But I kept thinking I need to stay calm and not get worked up, and yet the mom in you comes out and you’re like, please lord let her make it,” Bev said. Flanigan got off to a slower start than

SIren Coach Jon Ruud gives a quick celebration speech late in the third quarter after Caitlin Flanigan hit her 1,000th point. - Photos by Marty Seeger usual going scoreless in the first quarter, and Coach Jon Ruud took Flanigan out of the game during the final two minutes of the first period. “I think I had it in my mind, and I was kind of nervous, but I tried to get over that.” Flanigan started to calm the nerves a bit going into the second quarter, scor-

Caitlin Flanigan and her family took some quality time after the game to celebrate her 1,000 points, including Flanigan’s brother Jim (far left) who was resposible for driving Caitlin to open gym before school started.

I made the last one, I’ve never heard them get that loud.” According to Flanigan, though the layup wasn’t as easy as it looked. “I didn’t want to miss it,” she said laughing. After a short speech by Coach Ruud, and a few hugs from family members, Flanigan soaked in the rest of Siren’s win from the bench, enjoying her great achievement, while Siren rolled past the Eagles 65-21. Flanigan’s next goal is getting past Flambeau if they meet them in sectionals this year, but until that time she’ll have quite a memory to her high school basketball career. “She’s been an early-morning, earlyopen gym girl for six years, and just about every day since seventh grade she’s come in at 7 a.m. and shot and worked on her game,” said Ruud. “I can still remember the day when she said, “Ruud, I made 10 outside shots in a row,” and that’s just an incredible example of a girl that has thrown her life into basketball, and being great. I’m lucky to have had the chance to coach her.”

ing seven points while contributing assists and defense to the team. Janey Emery contributed 12 of 18 points in the first half, and Amanda Peterson added seven in the first quarter to give the Dragons a 33-10 lead at the half. “I told them at halftime that we were running great sets, and getting great shots the whole time,” said Ruud. The Dragons came out in the second half dominating the Eagles both defensively and offensively, but the real drama started to unfold midway through the third period. Would Flanigan achieve her 1,000 points? As fans tallied the points quietly on the bleachers, Flanigan made her move toward 22 points. “When she got her tenth point, there were about two minutes to go in the third,” said Ruud. “I looked at Coach Karsten on the bench, and the rest of the starters were on the bench, and I said she’s going to get it tonight, and they all looked at me like I was crazy.” Ruud’s prediction held true and with 12.6 seconds left in the third period, Flanigan sunk her 22nd point of the evening on an easy layup, giving the crowd something to truly cheer about. “They’re awesome, said Flanigan on the suddenly loud gym. “It’s cool when

Caitlin Flanigan Team Unity Siren

There certainly was no shortage of noise in the gym after Caitlin Flanigan hit her 1,000th point. Here Flanigan’s mom, Bev, holds up a sign of relief for her daughter’s accomplishment. Bev said she was a nervous wreck all day before the game began.

Unity Junior Brianna Schmid, tries to drive the lane against Caitlin Flanigan in Friday night’s game.

1 2 3 4 7 2 9 3 18 15 21 9 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A Unity Cola Hickethier 3 0 0/0 Allie Peterson 0 0 0/0 Lindsay Turner 1 0 1/1 Brianne Schmidt 0 0 1/2 Andrea Thompson 1 0 0/0 Tina Edgell 2 0 1/2 Briana Bielmeier 0 0 0/0 Becca Milligan 1 0 1/2 Totals 8 0 4/7

F TP 5 6 3 0 0 3 3 1 4 3 0 5 1 0 1 3 17 21

Siren Lauren Howe Jennifer Mitchell Caitlin Flanigan Jena Coyour Janey Emery Brittany Jaskolka Kim Lindberg Amanda Peterson Lynn Renberg Totals

F 1 3 3 1 2 1 0 0 2 13

2s 0 0 5 1 7 2 0 3 1 19

3s 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2

FTM/A 2/4 3/6 6/7 0/0 4/4 1/1 2/2 1/1 2/2 21/27

F 21 65

TP 2 3 22 2 18 5 2 7 4 65

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 19

Wildcats climb conference mountain! exciting to watch.” The Wildcat girls did endure some adversity this past week though when Katy Boyer broke her collarbone in a run against Centennial on Jan. 22. The Wildcats downed the once-unbeaten Cougars 36-19 in the race. Sarah Bottjen earned a first-place finish, and Simone Raedeke took third. Next, the Wildcats boys and girls teams will gear up for the conference meet on Jan. 30.

Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls boys, girls ski teams claim conference title by Matt Blumkin DRESSER – After dominating performances on Tuesday, Jan. 23, the Wildcats ski teams earned the right to “haug” the conference trophies. At Trollhaugen, both the boys and girls Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls ski teams dominated Champlin Park, Minn. They boys team won 49-6, and the girls team won 52-3. “They really stepped it up tonight,” said Wildcats Coach Dan Raedeke. “They skied good lines, and they were balanced on their skis.” The Wildcats boys team completed the Northwest Suburban Conference season 7-0 after finishing off onceunbeaten Champlin Park and Centennial of Circle Pines, Minn. CL-SCF beat Centennial on Jan. 22 with a 32-23 win despite six falls. Yet, they weren’t expecting a cakewalk either. “I think Centennial and Champlin Park will be our best competition,” said Wildcats senior skier Dan Boyer earlier in the season. Mitch Peterson took second in the race against Centennial with a time of 60.63 seconds, just 0.8 seconds ahead of Dominick Raedeke (60.75). They had come off a third-place finish

Dan Sandgren is shown here at the Welch Invitational located near Red Wing, Minn. Sandgren won his race Tuesday, Jan. 23, at Champlin Park, Minn., with a time of 41.15 seconds. - Photos by Dan Raedeke out of 47 teams at the Welch Invitational on Jan. 19. Andrew Wagner finished first overall with a time of 30.41, and Raedeke cracked the top 10 with a time of 64.02. Dan Sandgren took 14th, and Steven Wagner finished 21st. The girls team also had a strong showing at the Welch Invitational on Jan. 19 as they took first overall. Katelyn

Garbe won the race with a time of 38.72. The Wildcats had three finishers in the top 10. They followed it up with their 52-3 victory over Champlin Park as Melinda Beyer took second, and Kate Wright finished fourth for the Wildcats. “Melinda Beyer keeps improving every race,” said Coach Raedeke. “It’s

Melinda Beyer is shown here at the Welch Invitational, and won her event at Champlin Park, Minn., with a time of 47.69 seconds.

Conference clincher in Turtle Lake come pretty close to us this year,” said Clark. The Saints had little trouble against Turtle Lake as they finished with a final score of 68-12. Shaw Amundson (103), Mike Castorena (125), Justin Holmdahl (130), Dan Larson (135), Joe Raygor (145), Dustin Raygor (152) and Jordan Beauvais (275) all won by pin, while Justin Rikkola (112) won by tech fall over and Shawn Castorena (160) won 11-9. The Saints will host St. Croix Central in their final home meet of the season on Thursday, Jan. 25.

SCF seals this years conference championship by Marty Seeger TURTLE LAKE — It wasn’t much of a surprise, but the Saints locked the conference title against the Lakers last Thursday, Jan. 18. Although Coach Dan Clark is pleased that the team has accomplished this goal, he is already focused on their next task ahead. “You don’t get too revved up until regional time, so it’s nice to have, but it’s not our main focus,” Clark said. Right now the Saints are keeping their focus on making it into the playoffs as far as they can as a team, and the regional meet is where it all begins. One of the teams St. Croix Falls will face is Shell Lake, who has proven to be tough this season. “Shell Lake is in there, and they’ve

Unity loses to Clear Lake

Shawn Castorena carries a Luck wrestler in an earlier match this season. - Photos by Marty Seeger

The Burnett County Bulldogs - Joshua Glover, fourth grade - second place, Austin Swenson, fifth grade - second place, Joseph Gaffney, fifth grade - first place, Tristan Brewer, fourth grade - first place and Elliot Swenson, kindergarten - second place. The Bulldogs will be travelling to Amery on Saturday, Jan. 27, for their first team tournament. -Photos submitted

CLEAR LAKE — The Eagles fell to Clear Lake last Thursday, Jan. 18. The team was forced to forfeit five weight classes, but Dustin McKinney (125) won by decision over Matt Barney 6-4, and Jim Zahler (145) won his match by decision over Jake Espeseth 9-2.

The Burnett County Bulldogs travelled to Cambridge, Minn., for the Rum River Open, Sunday, Jan. 21. The results are as follows: Cody Byers, first grade - fourth place, Joshua Curtain, third grade - second place, Reis Covey, kindergarten - second place, Ramsey Clark, preK - first place, Elijah Northquest, second grade - second place, Ricky Clark, first grade - second place and Avery Northquest, preK - second place. Austin Johnson, first grade - first place.

PAGE 20 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Ice Bowl? Blizzard win 14-1 Blizzard jump out 7-0 and never look back Blizzard 14, McDonnell Central 1 by Matt Blumkin SIREN – In a game that looked like a low-scoring Canadian Football League game, the Blizzard had the hot hand against a struggling McDonnell Central team. Garrett Bennett got the puck rolling with a wrap-around shot a minute, 53 seconds into the game. Then, the Blizzard put in three goals in a 27-second span to go up 4-0. Tony Folk put the puck in at 6:02 into the period, and Josh Meyer put in a couple more goals at 6:13 and 6:29. Both Meyer goals were assisted by Ethan Hayes, and Kevin Mossey assisted too on Meyer’s second. They added three more for the period to lead 7-0 as Meyer scored a couple more goals. One even came short-handed. Travis Close also made the game less close as he scored a goal 15:15 into the period. It came no closer as the Blizzard added another three goals in the second period, but they gave up one. The Blizzard only poured on more goals in the final period with four. Meyer led the way with five goals, and Hayes had two. The goalies had a light night in goal as Justin Hughes had three saves in one period of play, and Bill Fish had a save in two periods of play. With the win, the Blizzard matched their win total from last season when they went 10-11. They’re now 10-4-1. The Blizzard visit Altoona next on Jan. 25, and the travel to Baldwin-Woodville on Jan. 27.

The Blizzard boys skated forth in victory over McDonnell Central in a big way on Tuesday, Jan. 23. -Photos by Matt Blumkin

Brian Bennett dives for the puck on Tuesday, Jan. 23, against McDonnell Central. Team McDonnell Central Blizzard

Josh Meyer flies across the ice on Tuesday night.

1 0 7

2 1 3

3 0 4

F 1 14

Scoring First Period – 1, B, Garrett Bennett (Travis Close), 1:53. 2, B, Tony Folk (Bryan Bennett, Mike Curtis), 6:02. 3, B, Josh Meyer (Ethan Hayes), 6:13. 4, B, Meyer, (Hayes, Kevin Mossey), 6:29. 5, B, Meyer, (Hayes), 11:33. 6, B, Close (G. Bennett), 15:15. 7, B, Meyer (B. Bennett), 16:56. Second Period – 8, B, Hayes (Meyer), 4:23. 9, MDC, Mike Konzen (Paul Wagner, Josh Hanzlik), 5:18. 10, B, Adam Eichman (Close, G. Bennett), 7:43. 11, B, Mike Curtis (Close), 16:11. Third Period – 12, B, Meyer (Harlander, Jamie Robb), 9:08. 13, B, Hayes (Steven Labatt, Mossey), 12:41. 14, B, B. Bennett (G. Bennett), 14:03. 15, B, Noah Thatcher (Harlander), 14:17. Goalies Saves – B, Cameron Hughes (3), Bill Fish (1). MDC, Trejan Kristad (41).

Lady Blizzard bouncing back with wins seniors, had goals in the game.” It was Ramstrom who hit the gamewinning goal to give the Lady Blizzard their second win of the season, who also had an assist to Nicole Steiner in the first period to lead the game after the first period 1-0. O’Brien scored her goal on an assist from Shannon Steiner and Ramstrom earlier in the second period.

Lady Blizzard tie Hayward, defeat Lady Knights in overtime game by Marty Seeger SIREN — Despite losing to Superior on Jan. 11, Coach Greg Norman said that the Lady Blizzard played a solid game. The girls lost 4-1 in that game, but three of Superior’s goals came in the second period. “Our team played very well the whole game,” said Norman. The Blizzard moved on to play Hayward on Thursday, Jan. 18, and pelted the Lumberjacks with 28 shots on goal, while Lady Blizzard goalie Chelsea Hunter, endured only 14. “Hayward’s goalie had a great night, and we could not get the puck by her,” said Norman. “We dominated the game, but Hayward played good defense to tie us.” The Lumberjacks were the first to score on Thursday night, but that didn’t come until late in the second period. The Lady Blizzard answered that goal in the third period, when Alex Lonetti punched in the Blizzard’s only goal of the evening to tie it at one. Allison Briggs and Mandie Ramstrom were credited with assisting on the goal. The Blizzard managed to get four shots off in overtime, and Hayward managed four, but the team settled with a tie. The Blizzard finally got what they were after on Saturday, Jan. 20, against

Moose Lake, Minn. 2 Lady Blizzard 0 MOOSE LAKE, Minn., — Moose Lake defeated the Lady Blizzard on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Both goals were scored in the second period, and the Lady Blizzard had 37 saves to Moose Lake’s 21 saves. Team East Range Lady Blizzard

1 0 1

2 1 1

3 1 0

OT 0 1

F 2 3

Scoring First Period – B, 1 Nicole Steiner (Allison Briggs) 1:14 Second Period – 2, ER, Taylor Skelton, 3:40. 3, B, Rachael O’Brien, (Steiner, Mandie Ramstrom), 5:32. Third Period – 4, ER, Hannah Lashmett (Courtney Ryden, Lizzy Carpenter), 3:26. Overtime – 5, B, Ramstrom :21 Goalies Saves – B, Chelsea Hunter (16) ER, Michelle Salo (27)

The Lady Blizzard group together in one of their earlier home games this season. According to Coach Greg Norman, the girls are coming together and have been playing well lately. The girls took their previous two games into overtime, tying one and winning the other. - File photo by Marty Seeger the East Range Lady Knights in their 32 overtime win. The Knights are a team that includes players from BabbittEmbarrass, Ely and Tower-Soudan, Minn., and they made the four-hour drive Saturday to play the Blizzard at

the Lodge Center arena. “They came and worked hard, but our team would not let them leave with a win,” Norman said. “It was senior day, and we were happy that Rachel O’Brien and Mandie Ramstrom, both

Team Lady Blizzard Hayward

1 1 0

2 0 1

3 0 0

OT 0 0

F 1 1

Scoring First Period – No scoring Second Period – 1, H, Natalie Radtke, 16:38. Third Period – 2, B, Alex Lonetti (Allison Briggs, Mandie Ramstrom), 2:38. Overtime No scoring Goalies Saves – B, Chelsea Hunter (14) H, Jennifer Cobb (28)

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 21

A new game for Unity’s Kasee Hickok

Hickok teaches beyond the game by Mary Stirrat BALSAM LAKE – Coach Kasee Hickok is in her third year of coaching junior varsity girls basketball at Unity, but she’s in for a new game come midMarch. Hickok and her husband, Jason, are expecting their first child. Because of the physical changes that take place during pregnancy, she’s coaching a little differently this year, but the girls are taking it in stride. In fact, it seems they are even excelling. Already this year, with several weeks yet to go, the junior varsity basketball team has tallied up four wins, which is four more than last year’s entire season. The girls are also excelling in the way they help each other, said Hickok. “I can’t work them hands-on so much,” she said. “They’re trying to be more responsible and more independent.” With four freshmen and four returning players, Hickok is giving the sophomores the opportunity to help out with the newcomers. “They’re really a big asset,” she said, referring to the sophomore girls. “They know our plays. It makes a huge difference.” The returning players have noticed some changes in Hickok, as well. “She does get mad easier,” said sophomore Stephanie Kothlow, who is in her second year under Hickok’s coaching. But the results are worth it. “Our team is a lot better this year,”

Unity’s Andrea Thompson, who played for Hickok’s junior varsity team last year, credits her progress to Hickok’s guidance. – Photo by Matt Blumkin she said. “We’ve won more games. She’s a really good coach. “Last year on junior varsity we didn’t win any games. We came close, but this year we’ve won four. It definitely feels better to win.” “I feel like last year she was really hard on us,” said sophomore Cailin Turner, who is in her second year with Coach Hickok, “but she’s not as strict this year.” Hickok has the same high expectations for the players, says Turner, but perhaps having some experienced play-

ers means she doesn’t have to ride them as hard. Turner also realizes that she, and the other sophomores, have a new part to play on the team. “I think she expects us to be leaders, to be role models,” said Turner, who, in turn, said she looks at Hickok as a role model. As a high school physical education and health instructor who coaches both girls volleyball and basketball, Hickok really is a role model for the girls. a woman As expecting a child, she has been able to talk with the girls about life decisions. “I’ve talked to them a little about how you want to Kassee Hickok wait,” said Hickok, who is 27 years old and has been married for two years. “They think ‘This is cute,’ but I’ve tried to talk to them about how important it is to have a job, to be married.” Hickok said she especially wants to impart to the upper classmen how important it is “to know you need to wait, to have a stable job, and to find someone you really want to be with.” As a physical education instructor and coach, she is able to share the importance and health benefits of being physically active in a way that gets students interested. She’s also had the opportunity to encourage students who have the ability to excel. “Without her I wouldn’t be as far as I am,” said junior Andrea Thompson,

who plans to play college basketball. Thompson played under Hickok as a freshman, when Hickok picked her up early for school to provide one-on-one practice. “When I was a freshman, she came in early to help me, because I want to play ball at college,” said Thompson. It looks like her dream to play college ball will come true, and she credits Hickok for the extra help she gave. With connections at other schools and universities, Hickok has been able to hook the girls up with volleyball or basketball camps, sometimes at discounted rates. She even goes to watch them at camp when possible. This aspect of coaching — giving oneon-one time to the girls — is one that Hickok feels she is missing at this point in her life, because she is more tired than last year. “I feel I don’t have as much time for them as last year,” she said. “Last year I had more time to shoot with them and practice. I can’t do that anymore.” Despite that, the girls feel close to Hickok. “She always talks to me. She’s not like most coaches who don’t care about your outside life,” said Kothlow. “I hope she doesn’t go into labor during one of our games,” she added. With a due date in mid-March, that hopefully won’t happen. Hickok and her husband live in Cameron, where Jason is a police officer. She plans to return to teaching in May, and looks forward to being able to spend more time with her students and team. “I’ve gotten really close to those girls,” she said.

“Iron sharpens iron” for Wildcats skiers Senior boys push each other to victory by Matt Blumkin TAYLORS FALLS – When a group of men pull together for a common cause, it only makes each of them stronger. That has been the case for the senior boys on the Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls ski team since the time they were elementary students. They have pushed each other to success on the slopes, and they may find success at Giants Ridge at Biwabik, Minn., for the state meet in February. “It’s been fun,” said Wildcats senior skier Gus Garbe. “We have all kinds of memories.” They have grown up together, skied all winter together, won together and have had good times together. They won’t make it through the season with the same hair color either as they have tradition of bleaching their hair blonde before sectionals. At state last year, they took it step further with everyone having different colors. “We stained the showers at the lodge in Biwiabik,” Wildcats senior skier Andrew Wagner commented, “We cleaned it up. It was full of blue dye.” Wagner also left all sorts of colors (of skier’s uniforms) in his tracks as he took 19th at the state meet with a combined time of 71.81 seconds. Fellow senior Dan Sandgren also cracked the top 30 at the meet as they Wildcats took fifth as a team. After taking the Northwest Suburban Conference and the section last year, the Wildcats look to do the same with their core of seven seniors. They challenge each other at every meet. At least two have finished within a second of each other in the top five on several occa-

The Wildcats’ seven senior boys have brought success to the skiing program in recent years. BACK (L to R): Gus Garbe, Andrew Wagner, Dominick Raedeke, Mitch Peterson and Dan Boyer. FRONT (L to R): Dan Sandgren and Max Waddell. – Photo by Dan Raedeke sions. “It’s been a dogfight,” said Wildcats senior skier Mitch Peterson, who has won two duel meets this year. Peterson finished just tenths of a second before Sandgren against Stillwater, Minn., on Dec. 7 with times of 48.44 versus 48.98 respectively. He also edged out Wagner against Blaine on Jan. 6 with a time of 45.03. Wagner came in at 45.15. Dan Sandgren beat out Peterson against Andover, Minn. on Jan. 16 by just 0.06 seconds with a time of 43.6. Dominick Raedeke came in third at 44.09, and Andrew Wagner stayed within a second of first place at 44.19 seconds. Raedeke also had overcome an injury

to his back from horseback riding during the summer. He had been riding his sister’s horse and got knocked off. “It didn’t want me on,” said Raedeke, who has been able to ski all season. “It hasn’t bothered me too much.” The competition between the guys doesn’t bother him or the other seniors either. “We just have fun with it,” said Sandgren about competing against each other. “I think that’s the reason we’re all good.” Their skiing has translated into their fifth North Suburban Conference title when the beat Champlin Park. They have also been with the Wildcats ski team during its peak. The Wildcats have

gone to five consecutive state meets, and some of the senior boys have been part of each of the past two teams at state. They’ve also garnered attention outside of high school skiing. Several ski together for various ski programs and have had success. “I think it’s cool when we come up against other teams,” said Wildcats senior skier Gus Garbe. “People from other resort teams hear about us.” Several have skied together for Wild Mountain’s development team over the years, going back as early as second grade. Some also ski for the United States Ski Association at Wild Mountain. “I’m out here (Wild Mountain) all the time,” said Wagner who also works there in the retail shop. Wagner, Peterson, Raedeke, Sandgren, Boyer, Garbe and Max Waddell have pushed each other to success on the slopes. As the Minnesota high school skiing season heads to postseason action, they’ll have the opportunity to wield their sharpened skiing against Minnesota’s best. Lone rangerette Sarah Bottjen has been setting the example for the girls team as the lone senior on the team this season. “Sarah Bottjen’s biggest improvement this year is on helping the younger skiers,” said coach Raedeke. “All the girls have benefited from her help.” That has led to a regular season conference title for the Wildcats, and things have been looking up for the future with a young team. “I think next year we should be solid,” said Bottjen, who plans to ski for the St. Olaf College ski team next year.

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Eagles invade Dragon territory Unity escapes with a win while Siren keeps it close

Siren 44, Shell Lake 38 SIREN — The Dragons took one away from Shell Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Siren took the early lead in the first quarter and held the lead for much of the game. Adam Daniels led the team with 16 points and Derek D’Jock added 13. Siren plays at Grantsburg Jan. 30.

Unity 48, Siren 37 by Marty Seeger SIREN — The Dragons nipped at the Eagles talons for much of the first half last Friday, Jan. 19. Unity had trouble getting any type of run that would allow them to get a substantial lead. “As usual the kids played hard, but we’re just not scoring enough points,” said Siren Coach Rick Anderson. The Eagles held a small 13-9 lead in the first quarter, but Siren mounted a comeback before the half with less than two minutes to go. But down 21-18, the Dragons ran into foul trouble and had difficulty hitting the easier buckets. “We’d like to think that we’re going to get a break one of these days,” said Anderson. They miss a couple of easy shots down here, and you never know how the complexion of a game can change on that. We’re just trying to get better because come playoff time, we want to be playing our best ball.” The Dragons quickly went down by 10 points at the half, but played well enough to keep the game within 10 for the rest of the game. “I thought Siren worked hard and played real well,” said Unity Coach Dennis Anderson. “Siren did not allow us to get on any kind of run. We would push the lead to 12-14 points, and they would come right back and cut it to 7-8 points.” Chris Bugg led the Eagles with 20 points, and shot well from the line

Team Siren Shell Lake

1 2 3 4 12 15 10 7 10 4 16 8 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A Siren John Anderson 0 1 0/0 Bobby Smith 0 0 0/0 Jordan Decorah 0 1 0/0 Adam Daniels 5 1 3/5 Keith Cremin 1 0 1/2 Derek D’Jock 6 0 1/1 Dylan Geske 3 0 0/1 Totals 15 3 5/9

F 1 3 1 0 1 4 1 11

TP 3 0 3 16 3 13 6 44

Shell Lake Jake. McQuade John Cusick A.T. Pederson Sam Gronning Luke Gronning Totals

F 1 2 2 1 5 11

TP 4 3 13 14 4 38

Team Unity Siren

Siren senior Derek D’Jock gets fouled by Unity’s Justin Bader during the third period of Friday night’s game. Siren was able to keep the game close for the majority of the game. - Photo by Marty Seeger going 7 for 10. Chad Strilzuk, Ryan Flaherty and Merrill Leoso each added six points. Adam Daniels led the Dragons with 19 points and Derek D’Jock contributed

eight points. “We didn’t play particularly well, but it’s better to play poorly and win than to play well and lose,” said Anderson.

Unity Chris Bugg Chad Strilzuk Curtis Nelson Justin Bader Matt Goulet Ryan Flaherty Merrill Leoso James Coen Totals Siren John Anderson Ryan Keith Jordan Decorah Bobby Smith Keith Cremin Derek D’Jock Dylan Geske Adam Daniels Travis Freese Totals

2s 2 1 6 1 2 12

3s 0 0 0 3 0 3

FTM/A 0/0 1/1 1/3 3/4 0/0 5/8

F 44 38

1 2 3 4 13 15 8 12 9 11 8 9 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A 5 1 7/10 2 0 2/2 0 0 0/0 1 0 1/2 0 2/4 1 0 0 6/8 0 2 1/2 0/0 1 0 10 3 19/28

F TP 0 20 1 6 3 0 1 3 4 4 2 6 1 7 1 2 13 48

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/1 0/0 1/2 0/1 0/0 1/4

F TP 1 2 1 0 2 2 4 0 1 3 3 8 4 3 3 19 2 0 21 37

2s 1 0 1 0 0 4 1 8 0 15

3s 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 2

F 48 37

Tigers Baer down to beat the Cardinals takes.” The Tigers capitalized to win a contest between two teams that have spent time towards the bottom of the standings this season. “There’s a big difference between the top and bottom of the conference right now, but in big games like this, you see our true potential,” said Widiker.

Beth Baer scores 10, and Tigers defense steps up to oust Cards Webster 31, Luck 23 by Matt Blumkin WEBSTER – In a low-scoring battle, the Tigers came up with the defense and offense needed to win. “We got our confidence up,” said Tigers senior post player Katie Thill. The game had gone back and forth for three quarters with the teams trading leads, but the Tigers stepped up their defense and offense to pull away during the fourth quarter. “We pushed it on defense,” said Tigers junior point guard Samantha Hogle. They tightened their defense against the Cards’ triangle offense, and they held the Cards to a basket and a pair of free throws in the final quarter, their lowest output in any quarter of the game. “We switched to a man defense, and we got the ball pressure, and we sagged in,” said Tigers Coach Greg Widiker. Widiker also liked how Hogle stepped up in running the offense and how Beth Baer executed in the low post. Baer had 10 points in the game for the Tigers, and Hogle had eight points with half coming in the final quarter. “This is a game that hopefully makes us better,” said Widiker. “I thought I saw that in some of the team leaders tonight stepping up and finishing.”

Beth Baer stepped up with 10 points to help the Tigers defeat the Cardinals on Friday, Jan. 19. - Photos by Matt Blumkin Thill also gave the Tigers a boost in the final quarter with four points, including a basket that put the Tigers ahead by five, 26-21. The two conference foes had come into the final quarter tied 19-19. “I think we took care of the ball a lot better in the second half,” said junior post player Chelsey Bereiter. The Tigers also connected at the freethrow line down the stretch with 3-6 shooting, an aspect of the game that the

Tigers had been struggling with. “Tonight, they were key,” said Widiker. While the Tigers took care of business in the second half, the Cards’ second half woes continued. They also played without starter Brittney Danielson due to injury, and Briana Stage had ankle troubles. “Fundamentally, we just don’t have it,” said Cards Coach Marty Messar. “We have doggone too many mis-

Chelsie Benson, #4, scraps for the ball in Friday night’s game.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 23

Vikings down Panthers 58-40 Jake Schmidt rolls with 19 in the third to lead the Vikings victorious

Grantsburg 75, Frederic 46 FREDERIC – The Pirates changed momentum in their win over the Vikings last Friday, Jan. 19. The Pirates had lost three previous contests against some tough competition. The game remained close in the first quarter, with Grantsburg taking a threepoint lead, but they stretched their lead to 12 at the half. Tyler Meyers led the Pirates with 15 points, while Jason Jenson added 13 and Tim Josephson added 12. Jake Schmidt led the Vikings with 19 points, and Kyle Swenson and Steve Lake contributed nine.

Frederic 58, Prairie Farm 40 by Marty Seeger FREDERIC – It didn’t take long for the Vikings to get moving Tuesday, Jan. 23, and when Jake Schmidt added 19 to their score after halftime, it was all over. “I just knew they would be in trouble when they went to the man defense,” said Coach Ben Nelson Prairie Farm played man-to-man defense in the third and allowed Schmidt to get easy buckets under the basket. Nearly all of his points in the third quarter came on layups and sound moves to the basket. The Vikings also capitalized on turnovers early in the first quarter, and they jumped out to an early 16-4 lead after the first quarter. Prairie Farm managed to bring it to within six points in the second quarter, but the Vikings kept the pressure coming and never let the Panthers get close. “Defensively we played well and we had some kids who played well for us off the bench,” said Nelson. “Tonight we rebounded better and played solid offense all four quarters.” Steve Lake was strong on the boards again with 10 rebounds to go along with 10 points. Zach Anderson has improved greatly since the start of the season and had a big night with 17 points and eight rebounds.

Clear Lake 51, St. Croix Falls 31 ST. CROIX FALLS – The Saints lost a tough game last Thursday, Jan. 18, to a tough Warriors team. The game remained close in the first period as the Warriors took a one-point lead, but stretched their lead to 10 points at the half. Jacob Larcom led the Saints with 11 points, three steals and five rebounds. Trygve Chinander and Greg Kadrmas had five rebounds as well, to go along with six points apiece.

Zach Anderson takes a shot over Grantsburg’s Brenton Thompson on Friday, Jan. 19. Grantsburg rolled easily over the Vikings 75-46. Anderson turned things around on Tuesday night against Prairie Farm with 17 points. - Photo by Carl Heidel

Pirate senior Tim Josephson makes his move against Frederic’s Kyle Swenson in Friday night’s game. Josephson had 12 points on the night, and Swenson had nine. -Photo by Carl Heidel Team Clear Lake St. Croix Falls

1 2 3 4 7 13 18 13 6 4 11 10 Individual Statistics Clear Lake 2s 3s FTM/A 0 0/0 6 Josh Wrekboldt Luke Grosskreutz 4 2 2/2 Mitch Gorres 0 1 0/0 0 0/0 1 Michael Anderson Chuck Nichols 0 0 3/4 Matt Thayer 1 0 0/0 0 1/2 0 Lance Wineger Vance Friendshah 4 0 4/5 Totals 16 3 10/13

F 4 1 0 2 1 0 0 3 11

St. Croix Falls Jacob Larcom Daniel Roach Trygve Chinander Sam Schmidt Allastant Knuckles Charles Schmidt David Lund Francis Fossum Greg Kadrmas Totals

F TP 3 11 0 2 3 6 1 0 1 2 1 1 2 3 1 0 2 6 14 31

2s 4 1 2 0 1 0 1 0 3 12

3s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FTM/A 3/4 0/0 2/2 0/0 0/0 1/2 1/2 0/0 0/0 7/10

F 51 31 TP 12 16 3 2 3 2 1 12 51

Team Grantsburg Frederic

1 2 3 4 18 25 16 16 15 16 8 7 Individual Statistics Grantsburg 2s 3s FTM/A Brenton Thompson 0 0 0/0 3/3 0 4 Kevin Johnson Ben Larson 1 0 0/0 Shawn Pavlik 2 0 1/2 1 0/0 6 Tyler Meyers Tim Josephson 5 0 2/5 Jason Jenson 5 0 3/4 0 0/0 1 Tyler Larsen Brandon Kaiser 2 0 0/0 Trent Bonneville 5 0 1/1 0/0 0 0 Nate Dahlberg Totals 31 1 10/15 Frederic Steve Lake Nolan Neumann Ariel Chung Kyle Swenson Ben G. Anderson Zach Anderson Jake Schmidt Totals

2s 4 0 0 0 1 3 6 14

3s 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 4

FTM/A 1/1 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 0/0 4/4 5/5

F 75 46 F 2 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 1 2 12

TP 0 11 2 5 15 12 13 2 4 11 0 75

F TP 1 9 2 0 1 0 3 9 0 3 3 6 0 19 10 46

Webster 65, Northwood 44 MINONG — The Tigers clobbered Minong on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Brian Thill led the Tigers with 14 points and Kevin Ingalls and Brian Gibbs added 12. Nick Wolfe and A.J. Holmquist added six to the pile, and Webster continues to win. This marks the 10th-straight win for the Tigers. Their next game will be at St. Croix Falls on Tuesday, Jan. 30.

Jake Schmidt attempts a block on Prairie Farm’s Nick Goodremote on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Schmidt had 19 points in the third quarter to lead the Vikings to victory. - Photo by Marty Seeger 2 3 4 1 4 9 8 19 16 8 23 11 Individual Statistics Prairie Farm 2s 3s FTM/A Brandon Guthrie 1 0 0/2 0/0 0 0 Adam Klefstad 0 1 0/0 Tyler Seeger Mike Sampson 6 1 0/0 0/1 0 0 Denver Martin 3 1 4/4 Nick Goodremote Nathan Wirth 2 0 1/2 0/0 0 1 Jackson Hinde 0 0 0/0 Keith Holten Totals 13 3 5/9

F 40 58

Team Webster Northwood

F 0 1 0 2 3 5 0 0 3 14

TP 2 0 3 15 0 13 5 2 0 40

Webster Peter Walsh Brian Gibbs Nick Wolfe A.J. Holmquist Paul Olesen Brian Thill Alex Main Kevin Ingalls Adam Baum Totals

F 0 1 2 1 1 3 3 0 11

TP 10 4 21 0 0 17 6 0 58

Northwoods Stariha Dennigen Brisky Martin Haynes Benson Ross Dgorek Totals

Team Prairie Farm Frederic

Frederic Steve Lake Nolan Neumann Jake Schmidt Ariel Chung Ben G. Anderson Zach Anderson Kyle Swenson Brent Crandell Totals

2s 4 1 10 0 0 7 3 0 25

3s 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0

FTM/A 2/2 2/2 1/5 0/0 0/0 3/4 0/0 0/2 8/15

1 2 3 4 13 21 16 15 8 13 9 14 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A 0 0 0/0 3 2 0/0 2 0 2/3 3 0 0/0 5 0 1/7 2 2 4/7 2 0 0/0 6 0 0/0 0 0 0/0 23 4 7/17 2s 1 1 1 0 1 0 0 2 6

3s 2 2 2 0 0 0 0 0 6

FTM/A 0/0 2/4 1/2 1/2 0/0 8/8 0/0 0/0 12/16

F 65 44 F 4 1 1 3 3 1 0 3 1 17

TP 0 12 6 6 11 14 4 12 0 65

F TP 2 8 0 10 2 9 0 1 4 2 3 8 3 2 3 4 17 44

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Pirates win boat battle, 57-52, over Vikes roundings bother her as she nailed a pair of free throws late, which secured the Vikes’ road win. – Matt Blumkin

Vikings lose lead in second half to Pirates

Braham, Minn. 62, Grantsburg 56 BRAHAM, MINN. – Despite 17 points from Mollie Bjelland and Miranda Kammeyer, the Pirates came up short in Braham, Minn., on Jan. 20. The Bombers had big games from Devin Diedrick with 23 points, and Hannah Dahlman scored 20. The Pirates dropped their first game since losing last to Siren on Dec. 15., ending a sixgame winning streak. – Matt Blumkin

Grantsburg 57, Frederic 52 by Marty Seeger FREDERIC – The Pirates narrowly escaped the Vikings on Friday, Jan. 19, in a back-and-forth battle. According to Frederic Coach Troy Wink, the Vikings trailed by one in the first quarter, but regained a four-point lead in at halftime. The Vikings took a nine-point lead in the third quarter, but trailed by eight in the fourth. The Vikings eventually cut the Pirates lead to three points with 40 seconds left on the clock. “They were 10 for 12 from the freethrow line in the fourth, and that’s what won it,” said Wink. The Vikings shot well from the line but had trouble shooting layups, and Wink stressed that it’s the layups and free throws are key in the close games. Erin Schmidt had a great game for the Vikings with 13 total rebounds, two steals and three blocked shots. Ali Lake had eight rebounds and led the Vikings with 14 points, while Becca Anderson added 10. The Pirates Molly Bjelland led the team with 18 points, and Miranda Kammeyer added 17. Kammeyer helped the Pirates in the fourth quarter shooting six of seven free throws, and Vanessa Kleiss went two for two in the fourth. Frederic 58, Weyerhaeuser 54 WEYERHAEUSER – The Vikings rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat Weyerhaeuser despite foul trouble. Melanie Chenal had 15 points and Ali Lake had eight despite both fouling out. Erin Schmidt also stepped up big with 11 points, and she hit a shot when they trailed 44-39, which got the rally going. She followed it up with a duece and a free throw. Becca Anderson then nailed her second of two three-pointers to put the Vikes ahead to stay at 49-46. Anderson scored 13 for the Vikes. “We played well in spurts,” said Vikes coach Troy Wink. “It is a tough place to play with one side of bleachers and an open cafeteria on one end.” Jenny Murphy didn’t let the sur2 3 4 1 10 19 17 11 10 15 12 15 Individual Statistics Grantsburg 2s 3s FTM/A Abbey Vaksdal 2 0 0/0 0 7/10 Miranda Kammeyer 5 2/4 2 Mollie Bjelland 5 Megan Finch 3 0 0/0 Ingrid Ames 1 0 0/0 0 0/0 Steph Jensen 1 Vanessa Kleiss 2 0 2/2 0 0/0 Lindsey Hedlund 0 0 0/0 1 Laura Skifstad Totals 20 2 11/16

F TP 2 4 3 17 3 18 0 6 0 2 0 2 0 6 1 0 2 0 9 57

Frederic Kelly Wondra Erin Schmidt Anna Tesch Ali Lake Kathleen Jerry Becca Anderson Jenny Murphy Melanie Chenal Totals

F 57 52

F 1 3 0 3 0 2 2 4 15

Team Grantsburg Frederic

2s 0 2 1 5 0 2 1 3 14

3s 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 3

FTM/A 4/8 0/1 1/2 4/6 0/0 2/2 3/4 1/1 15/24

2 3 4 1 15 11 11 21 8 14 14 18 Individual Statistics 2s 3s FTM/A Frederic Kelly Wondra 1 0 3/6 1/1 0 5 Erin Schmidt 2 0 4/6 Ali Lake Kathleen Jerry 0 0 0/0 3/4 2 2 Becca Anderson 2 0 2/3 Jenny Murphy Melanie Chenal 7 0 1/1 0/0 0 0 Anna Tesch 0 0 0/0 Lisa Chelmo Totals 19 2 14/21 2s 1 1 0 11 2 1 16

3s 0 0 1 0 0 0 1

FTM/A 1/4 10/12 2/3 5/8 1/3 0/0 19/30

TP 4 4 3 14 3 12 5 7 52 F 58 54

Team Frederic Weyerhaeuser

Weyerhaeuser Nicole Hecimovich Sammy Olesiak Brittany Miller Sami Kaminski Kalley Kraczek Jessica Ludwigson Totals

Grantsburg’s Abbey Vaksdal going for a shot against Frederic’s Erin Schmidt. The Pirates rallied in the second half to down the Vikings on Jan. 19. – Photos by Carl Heidel

Siren 63, Shell Lake 18 Siren 61, Luck 15 SHELL LAKE/LUCK – The Dragons took an easy win away from Shell Lake on Tuesday, Jan. 23. Sophomore Janey Emery scored 20 points in the third quarter to add to a total of 25 points on the night. The girls shot 10 of 13 from the line and have been shooting in the 70-percent range in the past two games. The Dragons scortched the Cards 6115 on Jan. 22. Coach Jon Ruud says that this is a good sign that the girls are starting to come together. “We’re starting to get better every game and that’s exciting,” said Ruud. Currently the Siren girls rank No. 1 in the state for scoring defense. The Dragons allow opposing teams an average of just under 26 points per game. – Marty Seeger

F 3 2 5 2 2 2 5 4 2 27

TP 5 11 8 0 13 6 15 0 0 58

F 1 5 3 4 4 4 20

TP 3 12 5 27 5 2 54

Melanie Chenal looking for an outlet for the Vikings while Grantsburg’s Mollie Bjelland looks for the opportunity for a steal. Team Grantsburg Braham, Minn.

1 2 24 32 27 40 Individual Statistics Grantsburg 2s 3s FTM/A Abby Vaksdal 3 0 0/0 Miranda Kammeyer 5 1 4/4 Molly Bjelland 8 0 1/1 Megan Finch 0 0 3/4 Ingrid Ames 2 0 1/2 Vanessa Kleiss 2 0 0/0 Lindsey Hedlund 0 0 0/0 Steph Jensen 1 0 0/0 Totals 22 1 8/9

F 2 3 5 0 1 2 3 2 18

TP 6 17 17 3 5 4 0 2 56

Braham, Minn. Emily Bendickson Devin Diedrick Hannah Dahlman Annie Vavra Brittney Peterson Jessica Koch Totals

F 2 2 0 0 3 1 13

TP 2 23 20 1 5 6 62

2s 0 5 5 0 2 3 19

3s 0 3 3 0 0 0 6

FTM/A 2/2 4/6 1/2 1/2 1/2 0/0 11/19

F 56 62

Team Siren Shell Lake

1 2 3 4 19 22 14 6 9 1 3 2 Individual Statistics Siren 2s 3s FTM/A 1 0 0/0 Lauren Howe Jennifer Mitchell 1 0 2/2 Caitlin Flanigan 4 1 0/0 2 0 0/0 Jena Coyour Janey Emery 9 0 7/8 Brittany Jaskolka 2 0 1/1 1 0 0/2 Brynn McBroom Lynn Renberg 2 0 0/0 Kim Lyndberg 0 0 0/0 3 0 0/0 Amanda Peterson Totals 25 1 10/13

F 2 2 0 0 2 3 0 0 1 1 11

Shell Lake Ashley Anderson Steph Clark Sara Marshall Hanna Christ Ayla Melton Totals

F TP 2 4 0 2 5 7 0 2 4 3 13 18

2s 2 1 2 1 0 6

3s 0 0 1 0 1 2

FTM/A 0/0 0/0 0/2 0/0 0/2 0/4

F 63 18 TP 2 4 11 4 25 5 2 4 0 6 63

Kelly Wondra looking for an open teammate. 3 4 2 1 19 22 14 6 2 9 1 3 Individual Statistics 3s FTM/A 2s Siren Lauren Howe 1 0 0/0 2/3 0 3 Jennifer Mitchell 2 0/0 4 Caitlin Flanigan Courtney Daniels 0 0 0/0 1/2 0 1 Jena Coyour 0 1/2 3 Janey Emery Brittany Jaskolka 1 0 0/0 2/2 1 3 Brynn McBroom 2 0 1/1 Lynn Renberg Kim Lyndberg 0 0 0/0 0/0 0 0 Alysha Alden 1 0/0 3 Amanda Peterson Totals 21 4 7/10

F 61 15

Team Siren Luck

Luck Britta Giller Brianna Stage Megan Hacker Sarah Petersen Krystal Stage Totals

2s 2 1 1 0 0 5

3s 0 0 0 0 0 0

FTM/A 2/2 0/0 0/3 1/4 0/1 5/18

F 0 3 2 2 1 4 2 1 1 1 1 0 18

TP 2 8 14 0 3 7 2 11 5 0 0 9 61

F TP 2 6 2 0 0 2 4 1 0 1 12 15

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 25

Gymnastics results

Grantsburg takes sixth at Rice Lake, competes with SCF Tuesday by Marty Seeger ST. CROIX FALLS — The Pirate’s gymnastics team took eighth place out of 10 teams on Saturday, Jan. 20, at the

Michelle Lund competed on the bars and took fourth place on Tuesday, Jan. 23, in St. Croix Falls. - Photos by Tammi Milberg

Grantsburg floor competition

R E A Hacker’s Lanes

Sunday Afternoon Mixed

Standings: Sandbaggers 14, Spare-Us 13, Storm Chasers 12, Underdogs 12, Hot Shots 10, Gems 10, Misfits 7, Flame Throwers 6. Men’s games: Scott Morrison (Hot Shots) 224, Jim Loomis (Spare-Us) 222, Shane Nyland (Hot Shots) 216. Men’s series: Scott Morrison (Hot Shots) 588, Shane Nyland (Hot Shots) 565, Brandon Barfknecht (Hot Shots) 503. Women’s games: Gail Linke (Storm Chasers) 203, Edla Meyer (Sandbaggers) 164, Bea Moyer (Sandbaggers) 149. Women’s series: Gail Linke (Storm Chasers) 584, Edla Meyer (Sandbaggers) 470, Bea Moyer (Sandbaggers) 411. Team games: Hot Shots 915, Gems 851, Spare-Us 813. Team series: Hot Shots 2486, Sandbaggers 2330, Spare-Us 2309. Consecutive strikes: Scott Morrison, Shane Nyland (+5). Games 50 or more above average: Jim Loomis (+57). Splits converted: 6-7-10: John Bruzek. Sunday Night I No-Tap Mixed Couples

Standings: No Names 23, Packer Backers 22, Jeff’s Team 22, Long Shots 21, The J.C.’s 19, Late Comers 14, Happy Campers 12, Knaubers 10. Men’s games: Merle Larson (HC) 266, Leonard Knauber (K) 265, Don Swanson (PB) 262. Men’s series: Jeff Cummings (JT) 732, Leonard Knauber (K) 726, Don Swanson (PB) 690. Women’s games: Debbie Swanson (PB) 256, Gwen Larsen (HC) 244, Wendy Knauber (K) 229, Jan Kruse (JC) 229. Women’s series: Debbie Swanson (PB) 669, Jan Kruse (JC) 600, Wendy Knauber (K) 597. Team games: Knaubers 859, Long Shots 833, Packer Backers 812. Team series: The J.C.’s 2382, Knaubers 2353, Long Shots 2313. Monday Afternoon Retired

Standings: Eagles 8, Badgers 4, Swans 3, Nite Hawks 1. Men’s games: Roger Messer (Eagles) 211, Tom Johnson (Nite Hawks) 190, Dick Coen (Nite Hawks) 167. Men’s series: Tom Johnson (Nite Hawks) 509, Roger Messer (Eagles) 501, Dick Coen (Nite Hawks) 445. Women’s games: Lucy Hansen (Eagles) 161, Carol Phelps 161, Thelma Hendricks (Nite Hawks) 158, Carol Messer (Eagles) 151. Women’s series: Lucy Hansen (Eagles) 464, Thelma Hendricks (Nite Hawks) 431, Carol Phelps (Eagles) 423.

Rice Lake Invitational. Out of 40 competitors, many of the girls did well, including Jamie Lund, who took 15th place overall to go along with 19th place in the floor competition, and 15th in the vault competition.

Katty Peterson took 22nd in the beam awards, and Jessica Ilgen took 28th place on the bars for the Pirates St. Croix Falls also competed at Rice Lake and took 10th place overall. Priscilla Castorena placed in the 35th

Team games: Eagles 648, Nite Hawks 644, Swans 554. Team series: Nite Hawks 1741, Eagles 1734, Swans 1621.

Tuesday Classic

Standings: Bottle Shop 33, Hacker’s Lanes 30.5, Great Northern Outdoors 27, Yellow Lake Lodge 17, Hog Wild 16, Oddballs 13.5, Ward Lake Services 10, Pioneer Bar 9. Men’s games: Gene Ackland 258, Roger Tollander 256, Don Hughes 246. Men’s series: Don Hughes 728, Roger Tollander 699, Gene Ackland 646. Team games: Yellow Lake Lodge 711, Hacker’s Lanes 626, Great Northern Outdoors 588. Team series: Yellow Lake Lodge 1896, Hacker’s Lanes 1805, Oddballs 1700. Tuesday Late Mixed

Standings: RTs 16-5, Pumpkin Heads 14-7, Packer Backers 11-10, McCurdy Farms 10-11, Rat Pack 8-13, Rock and Bowl 4-17. Men’s games: Bruce Gravelle 213, Ron Pitts 212, Chad Brugman 205. Men’s series: Ron Pitts 579, Bruce Gravelle 542, Randy McCurdy 540. Women’s games: Sharon Holt 192, Tiffanie Tretsven 181, Jennifer Brugman 150, Barb Fritsche 150. Women’s series: Jennifer Brugman 439, Tiffanie Tretsven 435, Rose Burnham 421. Team games: Rock and Bowl 727, Packer Backers 721, McCurdy Farms 716. Team series: McCurdy Farms 2082, Packer Backers 2035, Rock and Bowl. Wednesday Afternoon Ladies

Standings: All Around Gals 7-21, Pioneer Bar 5-21, Frandsen Dairy 0-19, Crazy Ladies 2-11, Hacker’s Lanes 5-10. Individual games: Betty Schardorff (HL) 207, Laur Fisk (PB) 204, Char Sandberg (PB) 186. Individual series: Laur Fisk (PB) 511, Char Sandberg (PB) 493, Betty Schardorff (HL) 484. Team games: Pioneer Bar 768, Pioneer Bar 738, All Around Gals 732. Team series: Pioneer Bar 2177, Crazy Ladies 2121, All Around Gals 2075.

E S U L T S

Team series: Wardlake Services 2815, Hansen Farms Inc. 2756, Fisk Trucking 2466. Friday Night Ladies

Tuesday Youth (2 games)

Wednesday Night Early Men

O W L I N G

Standings: The Pin Heads 3, King Pin 3, J.K.A. Bowlers 2, Pin Patrol 2, LAM Bowlers 1, Rock Hard Bowlers 1, Strikes “R” Us 0, Frederic Bowlers 0. Boy’s games: Logan Hacker 155 & 147, Kyle Hunter 143. Boy’s series: Logan Hacker 302, Jaryd Braden 231, Charlie Lindberg 226. Girl’s games: Avery Steen 131, Alicia Sund 106, Avery Steen 104. Girl’s series: Avery Steen 235, Alicia Sund 178, Brandi Bahr 140. Team games: LAM Bowlers 369, J.K.A. Bowlers 360, Pin Patrol 325. Team series: LAM Bowlers 663, J.K.A. Bowlers 649, The Pin Heads 600.

spot in the bars competition, and took 38th place in the overall competition. On Tuesday, Jan. 23, the two teams met at St. Croix Falls for the second time this season, and Jamie Lund dominated three events with first-place finishes in the floor, bars, and vault competition. She also placed first in the allaround competition. Katty Peterson finished in the top spot for the beam competition. Maarja Anderson placed second in the vault and floor competition and third on the beam. Alyssa Ryan placed third in the vault competition and placed third overall behind Anderson and Lund. St. Croix Falls competed with four girls, with Kelly Willow placing at the top for her team in the vault. Kayla Cross was the strongest for the Saints on the beam and floor competition, and Castorena finished at the top of her team in the bars event.

Standings: A-1 Machine 10, Lewis Silo 7, Parker 7, Skol Bar 7, Jack Pine Trading 6, Pioneer Bar 5, Cummings Lumber 5, Bye 1. Individual games: Bruce Gravelle (P) 257 & 239, Chris Rowell (P) 238. Individual series: Bruce Gravelle (P) 721, Chris Rowell (P) 686, Dale Rowell (P) 591. Team games: Parker 1057, 985 & 945. Team series: Parker 2987, Lewis Silo 2663, Jack Pine Trading 2602. Thursday Early 3-Man K-Wood won the first half.

Standings: K-Wood (11) 27, CenturyTel (9) 24.5, Frontier Trails (4) 24, Full Timers (9) 19, Wikstrom Construction (4) 17, Hell Raisers (11) 15.5, Grindell Law Offices (2) 15, Fab Four (2) 14. Individual games: Don Hughes (KW) 279 & 241, Dave Grindell (GLO) 234. Individual series: Don Hughes (KW) 751, John Bytnar (FuT) 624, Lydell Larson (FrT) 622. Team games: K-Wood 614 & 607, Full Timers 604. Team series: K-Wood 1805, Full Timers 1777, Hell Raisers 1689. Consecutive strikes (5 or more): Don Hughes (KW) 7x-279, 7x-241, 5x-231. Games 50 or more above average: Don Hughes (KW) 279 (67); Kerry Cook (CT) 217 (52). Series 100 or more above average: Don Hughes (KW) 751 (115). Splits converted: 3-6-7-10: Dan Carlson (FF). 5-7: Wally Nelson (FrT), Laryn Larson (HR), Joel Struck (WC), Tim Pederson (FF). 4-5-7: Bud Buck (FrT). Thursday Late

Standings: Wardlake Services 9-3, Stotz & Company 7-5, Hansen Farms Inc. 6-6, Hog Wild BBQ & Grill 5-7, Fisk Trucking 5-7, Johnson Upholstery 4-8. Individual games: Dale Frandsen 257, Norm Hansen 247, Dale Johnson 246. Individual series: Norm Hansen 645, Lydell Larson 600, Gene Wynn Sr. 599. Team games: Wardlake Services 966, Hansen Farms Inc. 944, Johnson Upholstery 876.

Standings: The Leader 21, 4-Season Travel 19, Meyer’s Plus 17, Hole in the Wall 15, Tin Cup Promotions 15, Skol Bar 11, Brad’s Ringneck 10, Bye 4. Individual games: Karen Carlson 224, Bonnie Zbleski 193, Ruth Taylor 191. Individual series: Karen Carlson 546, Bonnie Zbleski 518, Dorothy Barfknecht 509. Team games: Meyers Plus 668, 4-Season Travel 643, The Leader 625. Team series: Meyers Plus 1826, 4-Season Travel 1817, Brad’s Ringneck 1800. Splits converted: 4-7-9: Julie Young. 73-6-10: Sam Richter. 6-7: Cara Holicky. Saturday Night Mixed

Standings: Handicaps 42, Generation III 39, Garbe’s Gang 37, Schmidt House 4 34, CC Lupinos 34, Lakers 33, Skowl 31, Dead Eyes 30. Men’s games: Ron Skow (SK) 225, Jon Underwood (Sub) 222, Dan Garbe (GA) 214. Men’s series: Ron Skow (SK) 636, Jon Underwood (Sub) 582, Rodger Wroge (GA) 556. Women’s games: Deb Ingram (SK) 202, 189 & 188. Women’s series: Deb Ingram (SK) 579, Kathy Underwood (Sub) 461, Kathy Java (LA) 457. Team games: Skowl 727, Garbe’s Gang 712, Skowl 685. Team series: Skowl 2077, Lakers 1960, Garbe’s Gang 1939.

Black & Orange Early Birds

Standings: 10th Hole 11-9, Black & Orange 11-9, Gandy Dancer Saloon 9-11, Log Cabin Store 9-11. Individual games: Rita Tesch (10th) 199, Sandy Price (LCS) 163, Donna Crain (B&O) 160. Individual series: Rita Tesch (10th) 453, Sandy Price (LCS) 437, Donna Crain (B&O) 413. Team games: Log Cabin Store 832, 10th Hole 823, Black & Orange 805. Team series: Log Cabin Store 2442, 10th Hole 2380, Black & Orange 2321. Games 50 or more above average: Rita Tesch 199 (+69). Monday Night Men

Standings: Larry’s LP 10-2, Bruce’s Auto 8-4, Parker 7-6, Glass & Mirror Works 66, Pope’s Construction 5-7, Vacant 0-12. Individual games: Chris Olson (L) 248, Mark Holmstrom (BA) 226, George Godzik (PC) 211, Arnie Pope (PC) 211. Individual series: Mark Holmstrom (BA) 570, Dean Eytcheson (BA) 546, Chris Olson (L) 540, Arnie Pope (PC) 540. Team games: Pope’s Construction 964, Larry’s LP 961, Bruce’s Auto 918.

Team series: Pope’s Construction 2662, Bruce’s Auto 2649, Larry’s LP 2627. Games 50 or more above average: Chris Olson 248 (+65), George Godzik 211 (+62), Mark Holmstrom 226 (+63). TNT Ladies

Standings: Flower Power 11-5, Larry’s LP 9-7, Cashco 7-9, Wild Bill’s 5-11. Individual games: Jennifer Kern (L) 199, Mary Ellen Smith (C) 180, Carol Phelps (FP) 178. Individual series: Mary Ellen Smith (C) 514, Jennifer Kern (L) 498, Mary Reese (FP) 464. Team games: Flower Power 733, Cashco 723, Larry’s LP 664. Team series: Cashco 2053, Flower Power 2028, Larry’s LP 1896. Wednesday Night Men

Standings: Lions 11-1, T&P Tree Service 9-3, Cashco 8-4, 10th Hole 7-5, Blasters 4-8, Northview Drive Inn 3-9, Black & Orange 3-9, Lynch Mob 3-9. Individual games: Ed Phelps (C) 251, Art Bliven (L) 209, Roger Tollander (C) 203. Individual series: Ed Phelps (C) 568, Roger Tollander (C) 567, Art Bliven (L) 566. Team games: Lions 966, Cashco 962, 10th Hole 955. Team series: Lions 2746, Cashco 2711, 10th Hole 2687. Games 50 or more above average: Ed Phelps 251 (+79). Early Risers

Standings: Hole in the Wall 19, 10th Hole 19, Gandy Dancers 11, A+ Sanitation 7. Individual games: Lucy Hansen (HITW) 182, Lylah Nelson (A+) 177, Donna Crain (GD) 174. Individual series: Lylah Nelson (A+) 494, Celia Leeha (HITW) 484, Lucy Hansen (HITW) 471. Team games: Hole in the Wall 610, A+ Sanitation 596, Gandy Dancers 540. Team series: Hole in the Wall 1765, A+ Sanitation 1654, 10th Hole 1588. Splits converted: 6-7-10: Angel Paulzine (HITW). Thursday Night Ladies

Standings: Riske Dick’s 12-4, Pour House 11-5, Black & Orange 10-6, Ben Ott Const. 7-9, Hole in the Wall 5-11, Check Services 3-13. Individual games: Daphne Churchill (RD) 190, Jennifer Kern (B&O) 189, Kathy DeMarre (B&O) 186. Individual series: Daphne Churchill (RD) 531, Jennifer Kern (B&O) 510, Kathy DeMarre (B&O) 469. Team games: Black & Orange 756, Riske Dick’s 699, Pour House 698. Team series: Riske Dick’s 2070, Black & Orange 2051, Pour House 1988. Games 50 or more above average: Kathy DeMarre 186 (+63).

PAGE 26 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

PREPS

OF THE

NAME: Brian Gibbs SCHOOL: Webster YEAR: Junior COMMENTS: For the second week in a row, Webster’s Brian Gibbs has demonstrated his ability to come up big in big games. He hit a 3pointer in overtime for the Tigers’ victory over the Pirates on Jan. 12. Brian Gibbs He took it further against Luck on Jan. 19 by controlling the tempo of the game as ran the Tigers’ offense. Gibbs also came up with some key shots in the game. He hit a shot just before the close of the third quarter. Then, he connected from 3-point land in the fourth quarter. Gibbs had 11 points in the winning effort. – Matt Blumkin

Conference wrestling at Cameron CAMERON — Cameron High School will be hosting the 2007 Lakeland Conference Wrestling Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 3, in the Cameron High School gymnasium. The schedule on Saturday will be weigh-in at 8 a.m. with wrestling beginning at 9 a.m. Finals will begin at approximately 5:15 p.m. A trophy will be presented to the winning and the runner-up teams. Wall charts will be presented to the individual champions. Medals will be awarded for first through fourth places and allconference medals will also be presented. — from Cameron Schools

NAME:Caitlin Flanigan SCHOOL:Siren YEAR: Senior COMMENTS: It’s no surprise that Caitlin Flanigan should be this weeks prep of the week. Flanigan hit her 1,000 career point last Friday, Jan. 19, against Unity. She was quiet in the first half but opened Caitlin Flanigan up in the third to score 12 points in less than two minutes to add to her 22 points for the game. “It just adds to the fun and excitement of being in basketball, and to go through it with teammates and best friends , it’s just good, it’s great,” said Flanigan after the game Friday night. Flanigan now has her sights on the always-tough Flambeau team, who has been a bump in the road for the Dragons in past seasons. –Marty Seeger

KC contest FREDERIC — The Frederic Council 6370 Knights of Columbus annual freethrow contest will be held at the Frederic High School on Saturday, Jan. 27. Area schools involved in the contest include: Frederic, Grantsburg, Luck and Siren. Boys and girls age 10-14 will be able to compete if their birthdays have fallen on or before Jan. 1. Warm-ups will begin at 8:15 a.m. with a start time of 8:45 a.m. The top-three competitors from each school will move on to compete at the district competition on Feb. 17. – submitted

www.the-leader.net

O A P B O X

Next: Suns, Knicks The Bucks have lost eight of their last nine games and only one in the entire month of January. Since losing Michael Redd, Maurice Williams, Bobby Simmons and Charlie Villanueva Milwaukee is 1-4, with their more recent loss to the Trailblazers. Their loss to Portland was a difficult loss to say the least, simply because Portland posts a 17-25 record. With the help of Blazers rookie, Brandon Roy, who scored a season high of 28 points, the Blazers made the bucks look downright terrible. Roy also hit a late jumper in the final seconds of the game to seal the deal. The Bucks had previously won the last three of four games at Portland. The Bucks will have to face a very tough Suns team this weekend. Phoenix currently holds a record of 32-8, and with the way Milwaukee has been playing lately, it will likely prove yet another tough opportunity to get the wins they need in January.– Marty Seeger

Next: @ Blazers, Sonics, Clippers The Wolves had a nice 7-1 start to the new year, and they even had begun nipping at the Utah Jazz’s lead in the Northwest Division. Yet, the Wolves have fallen flat on their face as of late with a four-game skid in a return to mediocrity at 20-20 as of Jan. 22. They dropped games to the Jazz, Suns and the Pistons. They lost a thriller to the Pistons in double overtime, 104-98. Chauncey Billups got the Pistons to the second overtime with a late three, and Rasheed Wallace had six points for the Pistons in the second extra period. Kevin Garnett gave the Wolves a 14point, 19-rebound effort, but he got in a tussle and had to sit out the Suns game. The Wolves got burned in that one, 131-102. With the recent struggles Head Coach Dwayne Casey has been fired, and Randy Wittman, the assistant, will take over. The Wolves have the chance for a new start, but will it bring different results? – Matt Blumkin

Youth hockey scores and results Burnett Youth Hockey Weekly Results January 18-21

Mites A Blizzard 9, Grantsburg 2 Goals: Jenna Curtis (5), Brady Mangen (3), Jordan Larson Assists: Jenna Curtis, Brady Mangen Saves: Garrett Hunter (13) Blizzard 7, Baldwin 4 Goals: Jenna Curtis (6), Brady Mangen Assists: Jenna Curtis, Aubri Larson Saves: Garrett Hunter (10) PeWees A Blizzard 5, Grantsburg 0 Goals: Joe Engelhart (2), Anthony Dietmeier, Aaron Dietmeier, Alex Hopkins Assists: Tyler Richison (2), Joe Engelhart (2), Anthony Dietmeier, Aaron Dietmeier Saves: Jimmy Richson 10) Blizzard 6, Somerset 1 Goals: Joe Engelhart (3), Tyler Richison, Aaron Dietmeier, Jacob Swensen Assists: Joe Engelhart, Aaron Dietmeier, Anthony Dietmeier Saves: Alex Hopkins (6) Blizzard 10, Baldwin 1 Goals: Joe Engelhart (3), Tyler Richison (3), Anthony

Dietmeier (2), Alex Hopkins, Ashley Diemteier Assists: Aaron Dietmeier (2), Joe Engelhart (2), Tyler Richison, Shay Johnson, Alex Hopkins Saves: Jimmy Richison (15) Blizzard 15, Spooner 1 Goals: Joe Engelhart (4), Anthony Dietmeier (3), Alex Hopkins, Matt Larson, Ashley Dietmeier, Jacob Swenson, Tyler Richison, Jimmy Richson, Shay Johnson Assists: Gino Lonetti (3), Anthony Dietmeier (3), Jimmy Richison (2), Matt Larson (2) Saves: Aaron Dietmeier (3) Pewee B River Valley 11, Blizzard 5 Goals: Ryan Curtis (4), Paige Young Assists: Ryan Curtis Saves: Ryan Damman (19) Squirts A Blizzard 3, Blackhawk 3 Goals: Vinny Larson, Jeremy Roy, Paige Young Assist: Keisha Roy, D.J. Hunter Saves: Brett Richison (8) Bantam Burnett-Grantsburg 6, Spooner 4 Goals: Dylan Franklin (2), Michael Reis (2), Jordan Sargent, Jeremy Wikstrom Assists: Dylan Franklin, Adam Cordell Saves: Thomas Labatt (29) Burnett-Grantsburg 1, Baldwin 1 Goals: Jeremy Wikstrom Assists: Dylan Franklin

LEADER SPORTS S C O R E B O A R D

WEEK

B U C K S - W O LV E S

BOYS BASKETBALL

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Team Luck Webster Unity Grantsburg St. Croix Falls Frederic Siren

Conf. 6-1 5-1 5-2 4-3 2-3 1-6 0-7

Scores

GIRLS BASKETBALL

Overall 11-2 12-1 8-4 5-6 4-7 6-8 2-9

Thursday, January 18 Clear Lake 51, St. Croix Falls 31 Firday, January 19 Grantsburg 75, Frederic 46 Unity 48, Siren 37 Webster 39, Luck 38 Saturday, January 20 Braham, Minn., 72, Grantsburg 57 Tuesday, January 23 Webster 65, Northwood 44 Siren 44, Shell Lake 38 Frederic 58, Prairie Farm 40

Coming up

Thursday, January 25 Turtle Lake at Grantsburg, 7:30 p.m. Firday, January 26 Frederic at Siren, 6 p.m. Grantsburg at Luck, 7:30 p.m. St. Croix Falls at Unity, 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 30 Siren at Grantsburg, 7:30 p.m. Webster at St. Croix Falls, 7:30 p.m. Unity at Frederic, 7:30 p.m.

West Lakeland Conference Standings

Team Siren Grantsburg Frederic St. Croix Falls Webster Unity Luck

Coming up

Friday, January 26 Frederic at Siren, 6 p.m. Grantsburg at Luck, 6 p.m. St. Croix Falls at Unity, 6 p.m. Tuesday, January 30 Siren at Grantsburg, 6 p.m. Unity at Frederic, 6 p.m. Webster at St. Croix Falls, 6 p.m.

GIRLS HOCKEY

Standings 10-4-1

Scores

Lady Blizzard

Tuesday, January 23 Blizzard 14, McDonnell Central 1

Coming up

Thursday, January 25 Blizzard at Altoona, 7 p.m. Saturday, January 27 Blizzard at Baldwin-Woodville, 7 p.m.

WRESTLING Coming up

Thursday, January 25 Luck-Frederic-Grantsburg at Unity, 7 p.m. St. Croix Central at St. Croix Falls, 7 p.m. Tuesday, January 30 St. Croix Falls at Amery, 7 p.m.

ALPINE SKIING Coming up

Tuesday, January 30 Conference Meet at Wild Mountain, 5:30 p.m. (Chisago Lakes-St. Croix Falls)

He’s had better performances, but this week’s 15-2 record leaves the old, washed-up hippie with an 8615 mark, while his success rate holds at 85 percent (the above record includes the LuckSiren boys makeup game from 12/21). “I get a lot of eTHE SWAMI mails from players, coaches and fans, and many of them commend me for daring to pick the score and not just the point spread” he said late Tuesday evening while filleting 40 fat crappies he caught near Luck earlier in the day. “Any fool can pick the point spread,” one e-mailer said, “but it takes a real pro to forecast the actual score.” And the Swami couldn’t agree more.

The Swami

PREDICTS

(Hey, wait a minute. Doesn’t 40 crappies exceed the limit? ) The Swami Predicts Boys games Siren 50, Frederic 48: You heard it here first. It’s another Dragon upset. Luck 62, Grantsburg 47: Still stewing from last Friday’s loss, the Cards win comfortably.

Overall 12-1 9-3 9-5 5-7 6-9 2-11 1-11

Friday, January 19 Webster 31, Luck 23 Siren 65, Unity 21 Grantsburg 57, Frederic 52 Saturday, January 20 Braham, Minn. 67., Grantsburg 56 Monday, January 22 Siren 61, Luck 15 Frederic 58, Weyerhaeuser 54 Tuesday, January 23 Bruce 54, Luck 23 Siren 63, Shell Lake 18 St. Croix Falls 49, Turtle Lake 41 Northwood 45, Webster 19 Cameron at Unity, not reported

BOYS HOCKEY Blizzard

Scores

Conf. 8-0 7-1 4-3 3-4 3-5 2-6 0-7

Standings 2-14-1

Scores

Thursday, January 18 Lady Blizzard 1, Hayward 1, OT Saturday, January 20 Lady Blizzard 3, Tower-Soudan 2, OT Tuesday, January 23 Moose Lake, Minn., 2, Lady Blizzard 0

Coming Up

Thursday, January 25 Lady Blizzard at Chippewa Falls, 7 p.m.

GYMNASTICS Coming up

Saturday, January 27 Hudson Invitational, 12 p.m. (Grantsburg, St. Croix Falls) Tuesday, January 23 St. Croix Falls at Hudson, 6:30 p.m.

Unity 55, St. Croix Falls 43: He took a year off, but once again, the uncle coach takes the nephew coach to the woodshed. Grantsburg 69, Siren 44: This one won’t be close. Webster 52, St. Croix Falls 29: The Tigers steamroll toward that number one tourney seed. Unity 56, Frederic 44: The Vikes hang in there, but the Eagles prevail. Girls games Siren 54, Frederic 44: The Dragons are set up for the clincher. The Vikes have had trouble holding teams down lately. Grantsburg 62, Luck 24: What will happen next Tuesday? St. Croix Falls 45, Unity 27: This is the second Saints win in a row. (The Swami promised three) Frederic 50, Unity 27: This will assure a .500-plus record for Coach Wink’s charges. St. Croix Falls 46, Webster 30: Here’s that promised third consecutive W. Siren 50, Grantsburg 40: .Dragon fans, players and coaches will pretend they haven’t clinched because they still have two conference games remaining. But never mind them. Siren wins the West Lakeland crown! The Swami answers all e-mails and can be reached at predicitionking@yahoo.com

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SEC-

O UTDOORS INTER- COUNTY LEADER

ATVs • BIRDING • BOATING • CAMPING • FISHING • HIKING • HUNTING • RECREATIONAL VEHICLES

Big kahunas on Min nesotas Red Lake

Hello friends, Last week and again this week, I am writing to you about the five-day ice-fishing trip I went on with my friends Randy Norton of Mark Green Lake and Skip Walters Zander of Harmony Grove. The three of us OUTDOORSMAN’S made a seven-hour drive from Necedah to Red Lake, which is located in northern Minnesota. Red Lake is Minnesota’s largest inland lake and is becoming well-known throughout the Midwest for, its trophy fishery. For myself, my main goal was to stay on the ice in a sleeper rental shack and hopefully latch on to what Red Lake is known best for and that is very large crappie. As you will soon find out both goals were met. Thursday, Jan. 4 High 43, low 26 This trip had its share of unique moments, and one of them came this morning when I landed a 37-inch northern pike on a tip-up two hours before daylight. The three of us were staying in an 8x12-foot shack that was the last one Steve Brasel, owner of Bear Paw Guides, had available. Catching wall-

JOURNAL

Tyler Brasel with a couple of 15inch crappies that he caught on Red Lake. – Photo submitted eye with jig poles or rattle wheels in the shack was regular entertainment for the three of us. Just after daylight this morning, Randy Norton was fighting a big fish on his jig pole, and I was ready with the gaff when Skip Zander, who was looking down the hole Randy was fighting his fish in, said “let that fish go it’s on a tip-up.” I had had a tipup 20 minutes earlier and just put the flag back down as I sometimes do when using 10-inch suckers so as to let

my quarry get the bait way down the hatch. Randy’s battle came to an end, and then I began fighting a big gator that had at least 40 yards of line out. The fight was going well when bad luck came my way. Two days earlier, Steve Brasel and his 21-year-old son, Tyler, had come to the conclusion that if they moved our shack to deeper water (from 8 to 12 feet) and put it close to an expansion crack, we may have better luck. The theory on the expansion crack is pretty interesting. Red Lake covers over 100,000 acres, has a maximum depth of something like 18 feet and no structure. The Brasels firmly believe that expansion cracks create structure, which in turn attracts bait fish with larger fish coming after the bait fish. The big gator had my line wrapped around the expansion crack and I had two options, break the line or go back to the shack, drink a cup of coffee and hope mama gator would kindly undo the mess she created. Twenty minutes later, I happily found that she had done just what I hoped. After a quality fight, Randy Norton gaffed my extra-fat pigasauras that was just under 39 inches and after a photo, we let her go. Friday, Jan. 5 High 33, low 26 Earlier I wrote that we had a lot of unique experiences on this trip. Several of those were centered around a vole, which is half mouse half muskrat, that lived in the walls of our shack, and whenever we were not looking, would come out and destroy something that

belonged to one of us. This morning, our bounty on the vole, that has gone from $2 bucks, to $3, jumped to $5 per hunter, when Mr. Norton realized the varmint had chewed up the transducer cord on his brand-new FL12 Vexilar, leaving Randy’s new toy quite worthless. At that point, our hunt went from throwing spears to using mousetraps, which Steve Brasel provided each of us with. Later that afternoon while having a social hour in the shack and catching walleye, the three of us heard my trap go off, and Mr. Vole was no longer with the living. P.S. Hey Randy and Skip, you forgot to pay the bet! Saturday, Jan. 6 High 22, low 12 Steve and Tyler Brasel have been trying hard to find slab crappie for us guys all week, and today they did just that. Cracked ice was the key to success. The three of us watched young Tyler Brasel put on a fish-catching marathon along with several other fishermen, including Jim Appollo, of Berlin, who I had the pleasure of fishing with. Jim, if I spelled your name wrong it’s because I kind of lost my notes. Anyways, we had a blast, and the crappies are so big they could break your arm fighting them, and one fish could feed a family. Perhaps that is a slight exaggeration, but they truly are slabs with only one fish under 13 inches. We fished on our last evening around truly top-notch fishermen, and I am already looking forward to a return to Red Lake All goals were met on this trip! Sunset

Brought to you by the following sponsors:

Butch’s Northwest Archery Bowhunting League

Sheila’s Crappie

Week 2

The Main Store in Webb Lake is reporting that crappies and northerns are biting on Middle and Lower McKenzie lakes. Panfish are slowly starting to pick up the pace on Nicaboyne, and Webb Lake by the Oak Ridge Inn is starting to see some nice panfish and northern. Anglers are also hitting Deer Lake for northerns as well. – Marty Seeger with info from The Main Store

Team

Knoop Construction: 611 Whitetail Lodge: 605 Gronning’s Tree Service: 597 A&H Taxidermy: 597 Melton Sandblasting: 586 Century 21 Siren: 584 Gronning’s Tree Service: 583 A&H Country Market: 575 Bank of the West: 572 White Birch Printing: 566 The Shop: 550 Theoutpostmall.com: 541 B&B Disposal: 540 Becky’s: 533 Bulldog Taxidermy: 527 Snag’s Sports Bar: 524 Gluek: 509 Big Mike’s Sport Shop: 432 Women’s Teams Chicog Pub: 555 Wild Bill’s: 462 Bass Lake Inn: 350

•••

Hunters registered around 19,000 antlerless deer during the fourday deer hunt held Dec. 7-10. In deer management units north of Hwy. 8 there were approximately 2,800 deer harvested according to DNR wildlife officials. So far, the DNR says, that over 100,000 deer were registered by bowhunters, but they’re still gathering information to complete an exact estimate of the deer harvest this season. The past season could go on record as one of the top-five harvests of all time with the number steadily approaching 490,000. If the number reaches that point, the season could be one of the top-five harvests of all time. – Marty Seeger with information from the DNR

Father Son-Daughter Team

•••

Dan King Agency: 561 Glennco Transmission: 525 Boom Truck Service: 499 Weis Guys: 387

Big Sand Lake near Siren was a big flop for me last weekend. I drove north looking for something to bring home, and all I found were hammer-handle pike and a handful of tiny panfish. The 12- to 14-inch bass seemed to be biting on waxies though, which made for some fun catching with the ultralight gear. The ice on Big Sand is beyond 10 inches thick, which is great if you have four-wheel drive and a power auger. Both of which I do not have. – Marty Seeger

Juniors

Lipsie Pines: 480

Husband & Wife Teams Bluegill Bar: 580 Sportsman’s Headquarters: 571 Audie’s Barn Board Crafts: 541 Larsen Chev: 487 Parson’s Auto Body: 422

•••

Traditional Teams

Peterson Construction: 458 C&J Sport Shop: 431 Wishful Thinking: 427 Shell Lake Pharmacy: 399

On track...

Sheila Cook of Siren caught this 2-pound crappie on the Clam Saturday, Jan. 6. - Photo Courtesy of Big Mike’s Outdoor Sports

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 29

Siren police report Dec. 26: The Siren police chief contacted a local resident regarding a gas drive-off that took place Friday, Dec. 22, at Siren Auto Stop. The resident said he would pay up the next day. The chief will follow up on this. Dec. 27: Siren Auto Stop notified the Siren Police Department of movies that had not been returned by a Webster resident. The police chief notified that person that the movies must be returned or theft charges would result. Dec. 28: William L. Cook, 67, Frederic, was involved in a one-vehicle accident on North Shore Drive at 9:55 a.m. Cook lost control on an ice-covered curve and hit a fire sign and tree at 7501. He was driving a South Side Towing vehicle at the time. Dec. 29: Susan Marie Lane, 37, Frederic, was cited for operating after revocation at 11:18

p.m. on Hwy. 35/70 and Works Progress Street. Her vehicle was stopped because only the parking lights were on. Jan. 1: Robert James Rieckenberg, 29, Richfield, Minn., was cited for speeding on Hwy. 35 and D’Jock Street at 11:11 a.m. Butch Pittman, 54, Centerville, Minn., was cited for speeding on Hwy. 70 and Ellis Avenue at 1:17 p.m. Jan. 2: A report was entered into the record of the sideswiping of a parked vehicle owned by Kathryn A. Truitt, St. Croix Falls, during a backing maneuver. Stephen F. Brown, 49, Danbury, was backing out of a parking stall when his front passenger-side fender hit the front fender of the Truitt vehicle. Also Jan. 2, a truancy citation was mailed to the parent of a Siren School student. A mandatory court date was listed on the

citation. Jan. 3: A notice of overdue movies from Siren Auto Stop was mailed out. The movies must be returned, or theft charges will be filed. Jan. 6: Three juveniles were cited for underage drinking during a traffic stop on Hwy. 35/70 by Olsen Street at 3:05 a.m. A warrant arrest for warrants from both Burnett and Polk counties was served on Joshua Dale Wilson, 28, Siren, at his residence at 7 p.m. Wilson was also given a misdemeanor citation for possession of THC. Desiree M. Hicks, 21, Frederic, was arrested on a warrant from the Frederic Police Department and Burnett County during a traffic stop on Hwy. 35 and Elizabeth Street at 10:39 p.m. Jan. 7: A Luck juvenile was cited at midnight for underage drinking (being a minor transporting intoxicants) during a traf-

Polk County criminal court Christy Merrill, 22, Luck, criminal damage to property, arson of property, bail jumping. Plea hearing set for Jan. 26. Daniel Weides, 46, Osceola, issue of worthless checks. Bench warrant issued. Michael Berling,17, burglary, theft. Signature bond set of $2,500. Preliminary hearing set for Feb. 27. Sarah Bonse-Drone, 31, Milltown, issue of worthless checks. Signature bond set of $10,000. Initial hearing postponed until March 19. Bradley Sloper, 20, Milltown, theft. Bench warrant issued. Joan Wilhelm, 45, Webster, issue of worthless checks. Bench warrant issued;. Jason Linder, 23, Frederic, resisting officer. Cash bond set of $300. Review set for March

16. Ashley Dubois,18, Amery, theft. Review set for Feb. 2. Anthony Kralewski, 22, Osceola, pled not guilty to disorderly conduct, battery, bail jumping. Review set for Feb. 9. Ryan Rundquist, 27, Clear Lake, pled not guilty to resisting an officer. Review set for March 15. Jeremy Peterson, 24, Centuria, disorderly conduct. Jury trial scheduled for March 1. James West, 41, Turtle Lake, retail theft, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. Plea hearing set for Jan. 26. Christy Merrill, 22, Siren, battery. Plea hearing set for Jan. 26. Travis Hoisington, 22, Osceola, pled not guilty to pos-

session of drug paraphernalia. Review set for March 16. Eric Ouellette, 39, Amery, pled not guilty to battery. Review set for March 16. Ashley Berry,19, Hudson, pled not guilty to theft. Review set for March 16. Sean Grosskreutz, 19, Clear Lake, pled not guilty to possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. Review set for March 9. Christina Merrill, 22, Luck, pled not guilty to bail jumping. Review set for March 9. Jennie Carter, 43, Dresser, pled not guilty to OWI, two counts, operating with prohibited alcohol concentration of .08 or more. Signature bond set of $5,000. Review set for April 27.

fic stop on CTH B and Long Lake Road. Roger R. Parrish, 47, Osceola, was cited at 2:34 a.m. on Hwy. 35 and Tewalt Road for operating while intoxicated and operating with a prohibited alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher. Rosemary E. Hayes, 45, Spooner, was cited for speeding at 2:37 p.m. on Hwy. 35/70 and Lake Street. A noise complaint was taken at 7:18 p.m. Jan. 10: Jordan E. Potvin, 17, Siren, was cited for not wearing a seat belt on South Shore Drive and Alden Road at 9:05 p.m. Jan. 11: David J. Neidenfuer, 46, Siren, was cited for nonregistration of a vehicle on

Main Street and Fourth Avenue at 6:58 p.m. A backing-maneuver accident took place in the Subway parking lot at 12:32 p.m. Anthony E. Reynolds, 24, Cumberland, was listed as the driver; Donald Eugene Swenson, 56, Oak Grove, Minn., as the owner of a parked vehicle. The report indicated that there was no apparent damage. Jan. 15: Joshua Todd Harmon, 20, Frederic, was arrested on a warrant as he was at the Benson Law Office to attend a 1 p.m. wedding. Jan. 16: Art Johnson reported the theft of money and prescription pills after he was hospitalized Dec. 29, 2006. Jan. 17: Mariea L. Strait, 57, Siren, was cited at 9:45 a.m. on

Hwy. 35 and Capes Street for improperly displaying license plates. Strait’s vehicle had personalized plates on the front and regular plates on the back. Laura L. Ytzen, 46, Frederic, was cited for operating while intoxicated, operating after revocation and disorderly conduct (using profanity) at the Pinewood Motel at 5:14 p.m. after she had driven there from Frederic. Jan. 19: Floyd A. Buchin, 39, Siren, was cited for OWI, operatiang with a prohibited alcohol concentration of .08 percent or higher and operating after suspension during an 11 p.m. traffic stop in the Holiday parking lot.

Polk County civil court aRandall Combs, Amery, plaintiff. Shopko Stores, Green Bay, Sentry Insurance, Stevens Point, defendants. Plaintiff seeks damages and alleges that Shopko/Pamida Pharmacy in Amery gave him the wrong presciption medication from Sept. 2005 to Feb. 2006, giving him Topamax instead of ToprolXL for his congestive heart failure, resulting in personal injuries. Christine Chick, Amery, plaintiff. Teresa Wert, Clayton, Badger Mutual Insurance Co., defendants. Plaintiff seeks damages for personal injuries caused by an auto accident that plaintiff alleges resulted because of Wert’s negligence. Portfolio Recovery Association, LLC, Norfolk, Va., plaintiff. Annette Harland, Clayton, defendant. Plaintiff alleges default on consumer credit and seeks payment of $5,300.48.

Deutsche Bank National Trust, Fort Worth, Texas, plaintiff. Brent and Marie Hunt, Amery, defendants. Plaintiff seeks mortgage foreclosure for payments of $150,927.20. Sovereign Bank, East Providence, R.I., plaintiff. Daniel and Brenda Anderson, Osceola, defendants. Plaintiff seeks mortgage foreclosure for payments of $147,335.54. Betty Yuhan, Amery, plaintiff. Nicholas Weiss, M.D., Stillwater, and St. Croix Orthopedics, P.A., Stillwater, defendants. Plaintiff alleges that Weiss failed to inform her of risks of surgery for carpal tunnel syndrome prior to surgery, and if she had know that severed nerves were a risk, she would not have had the surgery. Yuhan seeks damages for suffering from severed nerves, pain and numbness even after surgery to repair the nerves.

Agstar Financial Services, PCA, Mankato, Minn., plaintiff. Jimmie Josephson, Clear Lake, defendant. Plaintiff alleges that defendant defaulted on loan and seeks balance of $10,867.17. Deutsche Bank National Trust, Houston, Texas, plaintiff. Linda Mevissen, Milltown, defendant. Plaintiff seeks mortgage foreclosure for payments of $85,825.45. Wells Fargo N.A., Fort Mill, S.C., plaintiff. Roland C. Grimh, Frederic, defendant. Plaintiff seeks mortgage foreclosure for payments of $82, 560.90. Wisconsin Housing & Economic Development Authority, Madison, plantiff. Daniel and Michelle Schultz, Turtle Lake, defendants. Plaintiff seeks mortgage foreclosure for payments of $69,968.54.

PAGE 30 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Fo l l o w t h e L e a d e r.

Polk County sheriff’s report Accidents Jan. 10, 3:30 p.m., Clam Falls Township, Clam Falls Drive, .25 mile west of 130th Street, CAROLE J. FOX, 48, Frederic, was eastbound on Clam Falls Drive and went off the roadway on the right. The vehicle then went over a steep embankment and hit a small tree.

Jan. 10, 11:54 p.m., Lincoln Township, CTH J at 65th Street, DAVID W. VIELLIEUX, 46, Turtle Lake, was eastbound on CTH J when a horse owned by THOMAS THORSHEIM (Clear Lake) traveled onto 65th Street. The vehicle struck the horse at the intersection of CTH J and 65th Street and was then driven away by the owner. Jan. 13, 12:29 p.m., Lincoln Township, CTH H/110th Street at 110th Avenue, #1—CRYSTAL R. RADDATZ, 34, Osceola;

#2–BROOKE M. DAVISMARKO, 31, Amery. Unit 1 was stopped on 110th Avenue, facing west at the intersection of CTH H/110th Street. Unit 2 was traveling northbound on CTH H. As unit 1 began to pull into the intersection, she pulled into the path of unit 2. The driver of unit 2 braked but was unable to avoid unit 1. Unit 2 struck unit 1 in the driver’s door. Both vehicles entered the north/west ditch and yard area, coming to rest facing north. Both driver were wearing safety equipment, both sustained injuries; driver of unit 1 was transported by EMS, driver of unit 2 was not transported by EMS. A passenger in unit 2, ABIGAYLE R. MARKO, 5, Amery, received a minor injury (in safety equipment), transported by EMS. Driver of unit 1 cited for failure to yield right of way. Jan. 14, 9:50 a.m., Clear Lake Township, 50th Avenue, .2 mile east of 45th Street, SHERYL J. JOHNSON, 28, Clear Lake, was traveling east on 50th Avenue. She had just turned off of 45th Street and was accelerating. The vehicle struck an icy patch and began to spin out. The vehicle entered the north ditch. The ditch led down to a swampy area, which, upon entering, the vehicle tipped on its side. Jan. 14, 7:14 p.m., Balsam Lake Township, 150th Street, .7 mile south of 150th Avenue, KANDICE M. CHAFFEE, 22, Balsam Lake, struck a deer on the roadway.

Jan. 15, 6 a.m., St. Croix Falls, Madison St., 50’ south of State Rd., ROSALEE A VALLEEN, 54, St. Croix Falls, was traveling west on State Road. This area has a steep grade and the roads were snowcovered and slippery. The middle area of the roadway was clear of snow and wet. As the subject began to negotiate the curve to Madison Street, she moved onto the snow-covered roadway surface. The vehicle then began to slide, eventually striking the guard rail, stopping. The vehicle came to rest on Madison Street against the guard rail. Jan. 15, 3:51 p.m., Eureka Township, Hwy. 87, .1 mile south of Beede Lake Trail, #1— MICHELLE L. ANDREWSON, 50, Danbury; #2—TERESA L. MADSEN, 47, St. Croix Falls; #3—ALAN M. WELLMAN, 17, St. Croix Falls; #4—JEANNA M. COLOMBO, 17, St. Croix Falls. Units 1, 2 and 3 were stopped in traffic for a school bus. Units 1, 2, 3 and 4 were traveling northbound on Hwy. 87. Unit 4 collided with unit 3, causing unit 2 to lightly collide with unit 1. Units 3 and 4 drivers were wearing safety equipment/sustained minor injuries/transported by EMS. Driver unit 4 was cited for inattentive driving. Jan. 15, 4:49 p.m., Clear Lake village, Maple Street, 300’ north of W. 1st Avenue, #1— BARBARA A. GRIFFIN, 53, Clear Lake; #2—JEFFREY J. MARTIN, 31, Herbster. Unit 1 was backing out of a driveway to lot 112. Unit 2 was northbound

on Maple Street. Unit 1 backed into the rear passenger side of unit 2. Unit 2 came to rest in the driveway of lot 113. Unit 1 backed out onto Maple Street and came to rest. Driver of unit 1 stated she did not see unit 2. Jan. 16, 6 p.m., St. Croix Falls Twp., Hwy. 35, .25 mile north of 140th Avenue, DONNA M. WRIGHT, 33, Luck, a struck deer on the roadway. Jan. 17, midnight, Clayton Township, 90th Avenue, .15 mile west of 55th Street, ALLEN J. HUBERT, 19, Amery, was traveling eastbound on 90th Avenue. Unit 1 lost rear passenger tire before entering the south ditch. Unit 1 was moved prior to arrival of deputy. Driver was cited for a seat belt violation and failure to notify police of an accident. Jan. 17, 7 a.m., Alden Twp., Hwy. 65, .25 mile south of 28th Avenue, ANGELIC M. KELLY, 36, Amery, struck a deer on the roadway. Jan. 18, 3:08 p.m., West Sweden Township, Hwy. 87, .9 mile north of 330th Avenue, JEFFREY A. ROBERTS, 23, Luck, was southbound on Hwy. 35 when the driver lost control of the vehicle after hitting ice. Unit 1 slid to the left. Driver recorrected by steering to the right. After driver turned to the left, the rear of the vehicle spun counterclockwise before the vehicle entered the ditch, coming to rest at the bottom of a ditch near a row of trees. The rear passenger side of the vehicle struck a tree, causing damage.

Burnett County warrants Teana M. Corbine, 25, Hertel, warrant-failure to appear, Jan. 17. Todd A. Groves, 58, Grantsburg, warrant-failure to appear, Jan. 17. Dawn I. Klinock, Grantsburg, warrant-failure to appear, Jan. 17.

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Raymond E. Merrill, 35, Webster, warrant-failure to appear, Jan. 18. Timothy P. Ott, 47, Osceola, commitment, Jan. 16. Mark T. Quinn, 19, Sandstone, commitment, Jan. 15.

Tamara A. Rutzen, 38, Webster, warrant-failure to appear, Jan. 16. Rhonda J. Taylor, 20, Webster, warrant-failure to appear, Jan. 16.

Polk County divorces Kim and James Hugo, Amery. Married 1981. No minor children. Carrie Gullickson and Ronald Gullickson Jr., Clayton. Married 2004. No children.

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JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 31

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JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 33

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PAGE 34 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

The Inter-County Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper: Since 1933.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - PAGE 35

Birthing butterflies plans house to help women kick drugs, create new lives by Julie Holmquist POLK COUNTY - A little support can go a long way for people trying to kick a drug habit. Living in a supportive environment called a sober house has proven successful at transforming lives across the United States. A local nonprofit group would like to see a sober house in Polk County, and it’s hoping for community support in the effort. Moms & Dads Against Meth is working to purchase a house and create a safe haven for women. They don’t have the house just yet, but they have a name for it: the Butterfly House. “We’ve been wanting to do this for a long time, because we want to provide long-term care,” said Doreen Rivard, a MADAM board member. Rivard works as a chemical-dependency specialist at Hazelden and is a member of the Polk County Meth Advisory Committee. “There aren’t a lot of resources in western Wisconsin,” Rivard noted, for treatment or long-term transition programs. “We see a need for long-term programs for women. In the Cities there’s a huge network of sober houses, but not here.” A sober house allows the recovering addict the opportunity to see his or her family, maintain a job and create a new life. The accountability and support that is available in a sober house is intended to give a sense of stability while residents learn to live a sober lifestyle. MADAM is now in the process of writing grants to find funding for the purchase of a residential home, where they can hopefully house up to eight women. “The longer they can be in a sober, supportive environment, the better chance they’ll have to stay sober,” said Rivard. “That’s the bottom line, especially with meth.” The MADAM board, consisting of Rivard, Denise Gunderson of St. Croix County and Mary Huble, have created an operational manual for Butterfly

House and have secured commitments from people to provide programming. MADAM has received support for the project so far from the Polk County Meth Advisory Committee and the Polk County HealthWatch Coalition. MADAM is working with a local bank on financing, is placing donation cans at Polk County businesses and recently received a donation from WalMart. The board also set up a bank account last week at The RiverBank in Osceola for donations to the Butterfly House. People willing to financially support the Butterfly House can make tax deductible contributions into the account. Rivard noted that Salvation Army shelters in the area can not keep people longer than 90 days, and that is usually the point where drug users relapse. “Grace Place said that half the people there are there because of meth use,” she noted. The Butterfly House would be located

in a residential home with a live-in staff person. People admitted to it would be required to live there for six months to a year. All residents will be required to work full time, pay a residency fee, take part in community service work and attend four 12-step recovery meetings each month. Residents will also be required to eat supper at the house each night, to help build a sense of family, Rivard said. The Butterfly House would offer its residents many ways to learn new behaviors. Residents will learn from a drug education program, from speakers teaching them about exercise and nutrition, from volunteers teaching them beading, yoga, and other activities. Learning ways to relax, such as gardening, is helpful, Rivard said. Inside the Butterfly House, residents will be encouraged in their own life transformation as they watch caterpillars become Monarch butterflies.

Other volunteers will teach parenting skills, financial responsibility, budgeting, how to use checking and savings accounts and other life skills. Gretchen Sampson from the Polk County Public Health Department said speakers could be provided for free on various topics. “We’re really modeling it after sober houses in existence,” Rivard said. “We’re following what already works.” Rivard said community volunteers would be welcome. For example, many of the residents may not have driver’s licenses, so rides to church may be needed, she said. Individual sponsors will help keep residents accountable. “Accountability is probably the biggest part of the sober house,” she said. “People in recovery need that and they welcome that.” Rivard said sober houses are a chance to stop the cycle of people doing drugs, going to jail and then ending up back in the same environment that makes it easy to stay addicted. “They need to relearn things or learn things they never knew,” she said. Wherever the home will be, Rivard said a conditional use permit and public hearing would likely be needed. She said the MADAM board would be committed to talking with future neighbors to answer questions. But she noted that any future neighbors shouldn’t consider the sober house threatening, noting the Butterfly House will have zero tolerance as far as drug use is concerned. “They should be more worried about the people not in recovery, instead of people working on it,” Rivard said. Approximately 10 people volunteer regularly for MADAM, which provides educational presentations at schools and produces a regular newsletter. For more information, e-mail MADAM at madatmeth@yahoo.com. MADAM’s Web site is www.methawareness.org.

New Owners for Yellow River Saloon & Eatery WEBSTER – The familiar restaurant just north of the Yellow River Bridge in Webster is again named after the Yellow River. The new owners of the Yellow River Saloon & Eatery, Stephan and Amanda Yantes, come to the area from the Twin Cities where Stephan owned a bar and grill in the Maplewood area for 13 years. –Photos and text by Sherill Summer

The sign of the Yellow River Saloon & Eatery advertises 99-cent burgers on Wednesday. Other specials are all-you-can eat walleye on Fridays and free tacos on Sundays.

This fellow now adorns the fireplace at the Yellow River Saloon & Eatery.

Curves looking for teams What is missing in this picture? You! Curves in Webster is looking for teams to participate in Curves first-annual Community Wellness Challenge. Teams are made up of one to five teammates, 18 years or older, with a business sponsor. The team that loses the most combined inches and pounds between Feb. 12 and Apr. 7 wins! So, eat healthy, exercise at Curves in Webster free of charge and feel good. Individuals who want to participate, but who are not a part of a team, Curves can help you out. Contact Webster Curves for more information. – Photo by Sherill Summer

Stephan and Amanda Yantes, new owners of the Yellow River Saloon & Eatery.

PAGE 36 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NEWS SECTION - A - JANUARY 24, 2007

Ann Hraychuck takes seat in Assembly

Affordable health care top priority MADISON – Rep. Ann Hraychuck, D-Balsam Lake, was sworn into office on Jan. 3 at the state Capitol, beginning her first term as State representative for the 28th District. Rep. Hraychuck also announced her legislative priorities – vowing to work across party lines to make progress towards finding solutions to the health care crisis in Wisconsin. “I am honored to be a part of such a historic day and even more honored to serve my constituents,” said Hraychuck. “I’m here today because they know I will deliver on their priorities. Affordable health care was the No. 1 issue that I heard about when talking with friends and neighbors this summer, and it will be one of the first things I’ll fight for as their new state representative.” Health care costs in Wisconsin are well-above the national average, and there are three proposals out there that are intended to begin to change that trend. “These proposed plans may not

be the answer, but we need to have a meaningful discussion to get some potential solutions on the table,” said Hraychuck. “There was virtually no movement to fix this problem in the last legislative session, but I am optimistic that with this new legislature we can have some open and honest discussions that will move us closer to real solutions,” said Rep. Hraychuck. Rep. Hraychuck will also work to bring more quality jobs to our state to strengthen our workforce and economy, keep our schools some of the best in the nation by investing in education – without burdening property taxpayers, and pass the bipartisan ethics reform package that will help ensure clean government in Wisconsin. “I am ready to work hard every day for the people of my district,” said Rep. Hraychuck. “I look forward to collaborating with them and my new legislative colleagues to make life more affordable for the middle class.” Prior to serving in the state Assembly, Rep. Hraychuck completed 32 years of public service with the Polk County Sheriff’s Department and served as sheriff from 2001-2006. – from the office of Rep. Hraychuck

Leader reaches Mexico: Ole!

Ann Hraychuck signs in as the new state representative for Northwest Wisconsin in the 28th Assembly District. She is shown with husband, Dave, and son, Davy. – Photo submitted

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ZIHUATANWEJO, Mexico - -Readership for the Inter-County Leader has reached southern Mexico. Here in the small, Pacific costal town of Zihuatanejo, the Maslow family, from Grantsburg, reads the news from back home. This family of six is on an 11-day cruise along the Mexican Riviera. It is a combination family vacation and school-field trip. The four Maslow children are home-schooled. Seated in his rocking chair is Grantsburg business owner, Johnathan Maslow, president of M Tech, an EDM company. The other Maslows include (L to R) Kaelah, Zachary, Jackie, Alexa-Jo and Isabelle. – Photo by Wayne M. Anderson

Jauch sworn in

State Sen. Bob Jauch, D-Poplar, shakes hands with Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson following his swearing-in to the state Senate. Sen. Jauch is entering his sixth term as state senator. – Photo submitted

Terry Goodrich stayed warm sporting a buffalo-skin coat and coyoteskin hat at the Barronett ice-fishing contest this past weekend. Goodrich, of Barronett, is a Civil War re-enactor.— Photo by Larry Samson

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Jan u a r y 24, 2007 • 2 nd Se c t i on B• I nter-County Le a de r

Currents N O R T H E R N

THE LEADER’S COMMUNITY NEWS

Something to call her own by Nancy Jappe FREDERIC – “Something to call her own” is the reason Frederic native Audry Donald looked into buying the beauty shop known as Mary Ellen’s Hair Styling in Frederic. This was also one of the reasons that Mary Ellen Ruhn answered a Madison newspaper ad and purchased the shop nearly 35 years ago. After a year of working out the details, Ruhn handed over ownership of the building at 105 Wisconsin Ave. to Donald as of Dec. 15, 2006. Ruhn will not be leaving the shop, however. Her status has changed from owner to employee. “I’ll be working for a while yet,” she said. “I’m not going to be a Suzy Homemaker. I’m making my work into a hobby.” People walking into the building now called Hair Designs will notice changes right away. The interior has been upgraded, painting done and a retail area offering a selection of new products for sale has been set up. The bathroom just inside the back door has been taken out, and replaced by a washer, dryer and new sink. That’s the biggest change that has been made so far. Donald, the daughter of Alvin and Joyce Greener, has been in the beauty business for 10 years. She was trained in the WITC Cosmetology Program in Rice Lake, getting experience in dealing with nails, waxing, cuts, perms and colors. She worked for her mother, Joyce, at the Pazazz Beauty Shop in Frederic for eight years, and took over that business in 2004. The desire to own her own chunk of real estate and make payments on a place of her own led Donald to approach Ruhn on the possibility of a sale in October or November 2005. Ruhn, who turned 65 in 2005, had been thinking about the future and possible sale of the business. She figured it would take about two years to accomplish. The year that it has taken to get everything in order has given Ruhn a chance to think about the implications of the sale. “Oh, my goodness. I’m actually going to sell,” she found herself thinking. “That time helped me to get into the groove,” she said. “I feel good that I was able to sell the shop as a beauty shop. This is a great location for a shop. It makes me feel good that I was able to

The ownership of the beauty shop at 105 Wisconsin Ave., Frederic, along with its name, changed as of Dec. 15, 2006. New owner Audry Donald (L) was congratulated by Mary Ellen Ruhn, owner of the business for the past 34-1/2 years. The shop’s name has been changed from Mary Ellen’s Hair Styling to Hair Designs. There’s a new telephone number as well – 715-327-8232. – Photo by Nancy Jappe get (the sale) going, and that somebody was interested. Also, that I didn’t have to put it out for sale.” Hair Designs is open from 8:30 a.m. to noon Mondays, 9 a.m. to noon Saturdays, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays and later Tuesdays and Thursdays by appointment. Ruhn will be taking the Monday hours, as has been her usual pattern; Donald will be at the shop Saturdays, and both will be there during the weekday hours. The number to call for more information on their schedules is 715-327-8232. A new sign, listing the shop’s new name, will be added to the outside of the building come spring, when the weather gets warmer.

Mary Ellen stands next to her salon approximately 20 years ago when it stood in the shadow of the old Turner Hotel (barely visible at right in photo). - Special photo

About Audry Donald Audry Donald is a native of Frederic who graduated from Frederic High School in 1995. “People are still shocked at how far I have come,” she admitted, mentioning that she had a baby at the age of 16. That didn’t phase her, and she kept on going, crediting the Frederic teachers with encouraging her and allowing her to make up any work she had to miss. Donald is married to Dustin Donald, and has two children, 14-year-old Curtis and 8-year-old Brittany. The family has a Frederic address but lives just outside of Luck. The children go to Luck School. One day, when Donald was still in high school, her mother took her to a hair show in Des Moines, Iowa. “That was all it took – one hair show in Des Moines, Iowa,” Donald said. She liked the personalities of the people she met, their outgoingness, their good attitudes, their way of making other people feel better. “I told my mom after that show that I was going to do it,” she recalled. The rest, as the common saying goes, is history. About Mary Ellen Ruhn The month of April will mark Mary Ellen Ruhn’s 48th year in the beauty business. A native of Neillsville, she graduated in 1959 from beauty school in Eau Claire. After working for a shop in Marshfield for four or five months, she moved to Florida, and worked for a trophy-winning shop owner, an Italian named Mario. “I felt I was learning a lot in those days of teasing and beehive hairdos,” Ruhn commented.

When she was almost 21, just short of the legal age for doing so, Ruhn bought a beauty shop in Neillsville. The state inspectors told her later that they knew she wasn’t yet 21, but they overlooked that because they knew she had good intentions. Neillsville, however, wasn’t the answer for this restless young lady. She hired a girl to manage the shop, and went to work at a shop in Madison. Not wanting to go back to Neillsville, she scanned the Madison papers for somewhere else to locate. When the ad for the shop in Frederic was spotted, she didn’t even know where Frederic was. The nearby lakes and trees were the first things that attracted her. She and one of her brothers, a troubleshooter for the ASC program, came to Frederic to take a look at the town. That was in July 1972, and she has been here ever since. A year later, Ruhn met Larry, the local man who became her husband. The two had two children, Gene and Janelle, mother of Ruhn’s only grandchild, Ava. Larry died suddenly a number of years ago. “Frederic has been good to me, especially through the difficult times over the years,” Ruhn said. She also expresses gratitude to all the customers she has met and serviced over the years, assuring them that she is not leaving, that she will be working at the shop for some time to come, just in a different capacity. “I don’t have to stop, but I can change my emphasis,” she commented. About the building at 105 Wisconsin Ave. “There was a lot of history in this old building,” Ruhn said. The building started out as Dr. Turner’s medical clinic. It was Turner’s intention to build a hospital next door (in what is now the State Farm office), but he died before that intention became reality. When the clinic went out, the building was turned into a harness and repair shop. A man named Larry Liesch ran a barber and jewelry shop there, then it became Buzz’s Barber Shop and Karen’s Beauty Castle. The historic Turner Hotel, which was torn down in the 1980s, was located next door, and the beauty shop building was used for a time as living quarters for the people who worked at the hotel. Mildred Lindberg recalled her years of working at the Turner Hotel (named for Dr. Turner) in the 1920s in the book “Frederic – The First 100 Years” Centennial Edition. “There was an old barn south of the hotel where we had our sleeping rooms upstairs and H.H. Larson had pigs that he kept for butchering for meat below us. We stayed there for awhile, then we got the building where Mary Ellen has her beauty shop now,” Lindberg wrote. Ruhn succeeded in maintaining her shop through the concept of eminent domain when the old hotel was taken down. At one time, there were three beauty shops operating in Frederic. Ruhn always welcomed the existence of other shops. “Competition is good,” she said. “You draw from other areas, and you do a good job. There are plenty of people out there for everybody.”

PAGE 2 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

Julie Crabtree embroiders our world by Sherill Summer BURNETT COUNTY- It is not unusual to see landscape paintings of flowers and trees. When Julie Crabtree paints such scenes in watered-down acrylics, she is only just beginning. She next takes thread and layers it with more thread, beads, distressed felt, shiny yarns, sheer materials and more thread, layers upon layers until her pictures of flowers and trees shimmer with texture. She creates her mesmerizing art using the techniques of embroidery, an art form with considerable more prestige and history in Crabtree’s native England than here in the United States. Embroidery has so much prestige and history in England, that after she finished her primary schooling in the Sherwood Forest area, Crabtree was able to earn a degree in embroidery from the Mansfield College of Arts in Nottinghamshire, England. That’s right, embroidery! After listening to Crabtree talk about the many types of stabilizers and techniques of creating three dimension, one soon learns that there is more to embroidery than the samples and kits usually seen here in the United States. Crabtree came to embroidery at a fortunate time. In England, in the early ‘70s, when Crabtree was an art student, embroiderists shook off some of the bounds of tradition. Embroidery work became more expressive and eventually was taken seriously as a contempory form of art. Crabtree didn’t turn her back on tradition entirely, she has books in her studio with examples of pictorial embroidery and traditional stump work hundreds of years old. For those of you who know Crabtree’s work and want to learn more about the environment from which it came from, look for Constance Howard’s books on 20th-century embroidery. Technique alone doesn’t explain the vitality found in Crabtree’s art. Fine art is always more than the sum of its pieces, and the richness in her art is as much a result of her life experiences as her techniques. Experiences such as living in England, Canada, River Falls, Massachusetts and here, in the barrens area, south of Grantsburg; the experience of spinning her own yarns from wool of sheep, goats and rabbits that she raised herself and restoring an ornate embroidered dress from the 18th century in a historical village in Massachusetts all give her art depth. It is not easy to miss the quality of her art. Even prints of her original embroidery pieces have texture.

All of these different color threads make up Crabtree’s palette.

Artist e

A sample of the many ribbons Crabtree has won over the years. As a result, Crabtree sells a lot of her art. She places artwork in galleries in the area including the Gallery at Crooked Lake in North Winds Arts, Orchard House Gallery and Sivertson Gallery in Duluth, Minn. She will have work displayed at the Stone Hollow Tile Studio in St. Croix Falls during the upcoming Earth Arts Crawl in May. She also sells her work at fine art fairs across the Midwest, attending about 20 shows last year alone between May and December. Of course, Crabtree must have work to sell; so much of her time must be spent getting work ready. It is a grueling schedule, and she is very busy. Crabtree is interested in sharing her knowledge of

Crabtree at her sewing machine in her studio. She embroiders many of the stiches used in her art. embroidery techniques with others. She is planning to teach a machine-embroidery community-ed course in Frederic during April. This would be a great time for anyone interested in embroidery to learn from a master.

This piece titled “Symphony in Blue” is at the Gallery at Crooked Lake, in North Winds Arts, Siren.Photos by Sherill Summer

Save a Life Tour comes to Webster school by Sherill Summer WEBSTER - How do you convince high school students that they are not good drivers when driving drunk? Save a Life Tour came to the Webster school gym on Monday, Jan. 22, attempting to do just that by giving students the experience of driving drunk via a driving simulator. Delays in the steering and braking mechanisms are built into the simulator in order to produce the delayed reactions typical of a driver under the influence of alcohol. Students attempted to negotiate curves, stop signs and two-way traffic, often with simulated fender-bending results. Also on view to drive home the seriousness of drunk driving were a casket and a video loop showing court footage of young OWI offenders Elise Eichman tries out her drunk-driving skills on a driving simand first responder footage respond- ulator designed to produce delayed reactions typical of a drunk driver. ing to drunk-driving accidents.

A group of Webster students gathered around to watch their fellow students on the simulator.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 3

Writers’ Corner Old Victorian House by Evelyn Carlson, Frederic I will be 107 years old this year. I live in the little town of Trade Lake. I was built in 1899 by a famous builder from Rush City, Minn. I heard this builder hired on a very busy crew. I would say that was pretty accurate since they finished me in just four months. I am what you would consider a Victorian-style house. I stand three stories high; my attic is as tall as the floors below. I have beautiful hardwood floors, ornamental moldings, fancy engraved door hinges, a beautiful stained-glass door and window. I have an open staircase, hand-made balusters, and latticework around me, still beautiful today. My first owner was Trader Carlson; he really knew his business. He was very friendly with the Indians and could speak their language. They made him many items to sell in his store. His first name was John. I heard he was quite the ladies man until Hannah came and took his hand. They had nine children that I so enjoyed as they ran and played in my rooms. They had day maids back then—usually young ladies who lived in the neighborhood. They kept my rooms clean and bright and made the family meals, too. There was a summer kitchen separate from the house where they prepared the meals in the heat of the sun. Then they brought the food to the kitchen and served it through my serving door. There was a sad time when one of the Carlson daughters passed on. Poor Hannah couldn’t sleep and cried all the time. Later I watched her as she crocheted curtains for my dining room windows—they were so lacy and pretty, like a prayer shawl, I always thought. There were many fun times, though, for me. The family

would sit out on my porches and watch movies on the saloon wall across the street. Sometimes there would be cock fights out there, too. Then there was the occasional time when someone left the saloon and I could hear him stumbling down the road to home. I loved to listen to parties across the street at the hotel. People came dressed real fancy and from the sounds of the laughter it seems they were enjoying the dancing and the music being played. At one time their son, Philip, had a secondhand store in my rooms on the first floor. That was such fun and a very active time. People from the area came and bought items he had. It was so much easier, I heard them say, coming to him than going to the Cities, and a lot less expensive. Then came the day I was standing here alone. Someone even came and kicked in my door. I was so forlorn. Over time, a lot of my beautiful furnishings disappeared. I was so sad to see the things that I had enjoyed now gone. Eventually clothes, shoes, toys and linens were strewn on my floors—what a mess! I tried so hard to ignore it. I certainly didn’t look so grand after being left alone. My cedar shakes now had moss growing on them, and the rain was trickling in and was ruining my lovely floors. My outside walls, once so beautifully white, were bare of all paint. I know I looked sad and so, so alone. But now my life has a new beginning. I am so happy that someone moved in who really cared for me. I have a new roof, paint that covers my walls, and windows that are all back in their proper places. My new owners seem to love my porches as much as the Carlsons did. They sit out here a lot, enjoying a summer evening with me. I stand tall and proud again. Especially when people come around and say how much they admire me again, after all these years.

Submissions should be typed, double-spaced on one side only of 8 -1/2 x 11 white paper, leaving a minimum of 1-inch margins all around. Handwritten submissions will not be accepted. Submissions should be no more than 800 words. Submissions may be delivered to The Leader’s offices in Frederic or Siren, mailed to Box 490, Frederic, WI 54837 or e-mailed to the-leader@centurytel.net. We prefer e-mailed copy. If hand-delivered or mailed, please write "Writers’ Corner" somewhere on the front of the envelope. If e-mailed, please use "Writers’ Corner" as the subject and include the submission as body text of the e-mail. No attachments, please. Your submission to Writers’ Corner grants The Leader one-time rights to publish the item in the weekly newspaper. The author retains the copyright and all future publication rights. The Leader may edit submissions for grammar and punctuation, clarity and length. If you have any questions about this new feature, please contact us at the-leader@centurytel.net or call 715-327-4236. - Editor child, or just gone about my business, unwilling to possibly overreact? school, but was seen by And now the questions other tenants during his begin. Why didn’t he tell years of captivity. Neighsomeone? Why didn’t he bors said they assumed it escape? was Devlin’s son. They Likely for the same reasons also assumed he was a Kris a battered woman refuses to dropout. But they never press charges and keeps going Emerson looked at him closely back to her abuser. Fear. enough to put his face Such a small word for together with his missing something so powerful. posters that were in the On Jan. 15, Bill O’Reilly area. declared that he doesn’t Shawn was found less believe Shawn Hornbeck was than 50 miles from where held against his will. “…I he was abducted. In an don’t believe in Stockholm (syninterview, he said he saw drome) - this guy Shawn Hornbeck was his missing picture on a bench at a bus gone four years from 11 to 15...he’s got stop. But no one noticed. these piercings…I’m not buying this if you Would I have noticed? I’d like to say have a strong bond with your family. Even yes, but we all have our own busy lives if the guy threatens you this and that…if and tune out what happens around us. you can get away, you get away…the situI felt the same way when the video ation here with this kid looks to me to be a from a convenience store was shown lot more fun than what he had under his after Shasta Groene was found. Would own parents. He didn’t have to go to school, I have thought to offer help to that

Marring the miracle The first miracle happened Jan. 8, the day a 13-year-old boy named Ben Ownby was snatched while walking home after getting off the school bus. That’s not the miracle, of course. The miracle is that a 15-year-old boy who got off that same bus not only saw a suspicious vehicle speeding away, but remembered details of it to give to the police. The next miracle came on the 11th, when police, serving a warrant at an apartment complex, saw a vehicle in the parking lot that matched the description. The big miracle came after they contacted the local sheriff and searched the apartment rented by the truck’s owner. Inside they found not only the missing Ben Ownby, but a 15-year-old named Shawn Hornbeck. Shawn disappeared in October of 2002 while riding his bike. He has lived with Michael Devlin, who is now in custody, ever since. He did not attend

LUCK

WOULD HAVE IT

ETC.

RICE LAKE – WAOH Around Chakras, Partner Yoga, Nepal: A Journey of Culture and Dance, and Belly Dance for Any Woman, are four new short courses that will begin in January and early February at UW-Barron County. The public can learn more about any of these courses, register and pay online by going to www.barron.uwc.edu” and clicking on Lifelong Learning Opportunities; by calling Samantha Heathman at UW-BC continuing education department at 715234-8176 ext. 5403; or e-mail: Samantha.heathman@uwc.edu. – from UWBC ••• AMERY – Polk County Christians in Action provide a truckload of food each month on the second and fifth Saturdays at 9 a.m. It meets at the Congregational Church, 201 Harriman Ave. N., Amery, 715-268-7390. A $10 per family donation is asked to help cover costs. Persons will receive fresh fruits, vegetables, breads and other goodies as they are available. There are no income requirements. The next food distribution will be Feb. 10 at 9 a.m. For more information e-mail heaven@amerytel.net. – from PCCA •••

We ’ r e o n the Internet @ w w w. t h e l e a d e r. n e t he could run around and do what he wanted…there was an element here that this kid liked about his circumstances…” We’ve seen this kind of miracle before. Elizabeth Smart. Steven Stayner. Tanya Kach. Natascha Kampusch. These children went through the same kind of horror and indoctrination of fear and lived to tell about it. How many others don’t do as they are told and never make it home alive? How many others do as they are told and never come home at all, because of the shame of what was done to them? My heart rejoices for the Ownby and Hornbeck families, even as it cries for the Wetterlings and the countless other families still without answers. A little compassion is in order as this young man tries to find his place in the family he was snatched from. And Bill O’Reilly deserves whatever backlash he gets from such foolishness. (You can reach Kris via e-mail at maddienick@gmail.com.)

The photo with “Historical Vignettes” in last week’s Currents section showed the Carlson Hardware store on Main Street with C.A. Carlson (second from left) and employees (L to R) Bernie Benson, Rex Johnson and Frank Moody. Two of the names published last week were incorrect, notes Ethel Erickson, the niece of Rex Johnson and one of the village’s residents who remember much of the community’s 105-year history. Erickson said the photo depicted Carlson Hardware’s interior sometime in the 1920s. The store sold furniture and appliances and operated a funeral home out of the second floor. Later on the store expanded to the west and the funeral home was moved to the first floor. C.A. Carlson later purchased the other funeral home in the village at that time, operated by Alvin Paulson and son from Luck, when the Paulsons moved to Michigan, Erickson recalled. - Special photo

PAGE 4 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

River Road Ramblings

collected by Russ Hanson

The Trade Lake Roller Mill

by Stanley Selin A grist mill was built in Trade Lake in 1880 by Ira Griffen and J.E. Steel, according to the old newspaper records. The original mill used waterpowered millstones. A dam and sluiceway supplied water to power the turbine under the mill. Millstones with grooves cut in them were known as buhrstones. As the stones turned, the wheat kernels were ground into bran, middlings and flour. The grindings collected in the grooves and flew out from the edge of the stone. Early millstones were set to produce as much flour as possible while feeding the grain through just one time. This resulted in most of the bran and middlings being discarded. In time, it was found that a great deal of the flour is contained in the middlings. To increase production, the wheat was passed several times through a series of smaller stones, called middling stones. It became a patented process, because it produced a higher quality of flour. This led to the

The Trade Lake Roller Mill about 1910. – Photos submitted

term “patent” flour. Every miller wanted to produce patent flour because it could be sold for nearly double the price. Millstones had to be redressed as they wore down, a time-consuming requiring process highly skilled labor. The clearance settings for millstones were critical, for if they were set too close, heat was generated that could burn the gluten in the flour. This destroyed the flour’s ability to rise and make good bread. About 1875, steel roller mill machinery was invented, and because of many advantages, it eventually replaced the old millstones. By 1897, Carl G. Grimh had installed this new machinery, and the mill then became Advertising poem written by Frank Gotfred Grimh. known as the Trade Lake Roller Mill. The clearance between the steel rollers was much easier to set, and it could run for a longer periods between adjustments. P.A. Sundberg was the first miller, followed by August Fandin, Gustaf Hultquist, Ernest Lundin, Oscar Jackson, and Carl J. Franseen. The mill property passed to Charlie Akerlind for a short time, and then to John Forsberg. In the fall of 1893, Carl G. Grimh from West Sweden purchased the mill for $1,033. Carl G. Grimh had three sons, Gotfred, Robert, and Arthur, who operated the mill after Carl died. The mill remained in the Grimh family until 1930, when it was sold to Gottlieb Gerber. In later years, the mill was used mainly for grinding animal feed. By then, flour was being manufactured Only known photo taken inside the Trade Lake Mill. and distributed to A sack of Lily White Flour is shown between Arthur most areas by the large and Gotfred Grimh. flour mills in Min-

This board is all that remains from the original Trade Lake Roller Mill. It had been replaced with a new board because the constant movement of grain over it had worn a hole through it.

The information printed on every sack of Lily White Flour. neapolis. The mill was destroyed by fire of a mysterious origin in July of 1936, and was not rebuilt. In the later part of 1936, a new electric-powered feed mill was built next to the creamery and was in operation for at least the next 30 years. ••• We send birthday greetings to Bernice Abrahamzon who turns 86 on Jan. 21. Bernice not only puts together her regular columns in the Leader and the old news clippings, she is active in leadership roles in several organizations and her church. She helped start the local writers group and the rock club (not sure if that is rocks and minerals or rock and roll). We are hopeful that she is at an age when revealing the exact number to the

public is a measure of accomplishment rather than one to hide! She continues to live undiminished in spirit, activity and ambition and expects the next decade to be her most productive! Send her a card at 3446 115th St., Frederic, WI 54837. Bernice plans on becoming high tech for 2007 starting with Playstation 3, new computer, DSL high-speed Internet connection, Iphone, etc. We wish her well! Bruce and Ione Muehlhauser of Evergreen Avenue are celebrating 50 years of marriage Jan. 19. They live on top of the last big hill before dropping into the Sterling sand barrens, in Ione’s grandfather’s farmhouse. Fifty years of living with the same spouse means that you have learned to overlook huge numbers of your spouse’s faults and have come to terms with who controls the TV remote control. Congratulations! If you have some historic milestones to pass along, send to russhan@reconnect.com or Russ Hanson 15937 Co 27 Blvd. Pine Island, MN 55963

View of new feed mill near the creamery.

The feed grinding room inside the new mill by the creamery, with Leroy Lundin and Joe Englehart.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 5

Do you remember when… • Decisions where made by going “eeny-meenyminey-moe”? • Mistakes were corrected by simply exclaiming, “Do over!”? • “Race issues” meant arguing about who ran the fastest? • Catching fireflies could happily occupy an entire evening? • It wasn’t odd to have two or three “Best friends”? • The worst thing you could catch from the opposite sex was “cooties”? • Having a weapon in school meant being caught with a slingshot? • A foot of snow was a dream come true? • Saturday morning cartoons weren’t 30-minute commercials for action figures? • “Oly-oly-oxen-free” made perfect sense? • Spinning around, getting dizzy, and falling down was cause for giggles? • Taking drugs meant orange-flavored chewable aspirin? • You got your windshield cleaned, oil checked and gas pumped, without asking, all for free, every time? • And you didn’t pay for air? And, you got trading stamps to boot? • It was considered a great privilege to be taken out to dinner at a real restaurant with your parents? • When a 57 Chevy was everyone’s dream car … to cruise, peel out, lay rubber or watch submarine races, and people went steady? • When a quarter was a decent allowance? • You’d reach into a muddy gutter for a penny? • It took five minutes for the TV to warm up? • Laundry detergent had free glasses, dishes or a towel hidden inside the box? • Students were called pupils? • Every school room had a real blackboard and you wrote on it with chalk? • Pupils thought it was a privilege when a teacher asked you to clean the chalk erasers? You took them outside and clapped them together? • You invited your teacher to come to your house for supper at least once a year? – The above is borrowed from Senior Voices plus a few of my own. Makes sense to me “Of all the dangerous and destrustive “isms” that have plagued this century, ageism is the most stupid. There’s a story of a town in Connecticut that lost its power, had a complete outage. And they simply could not repair it (until) someone remembered that there was an old, old electrical engineer, who had installed the system in the first place, and he was living in some retirement community, and they sent for him. And he came along and he got a little mallet out and he went all through the (plant) and he went tap, tap, tap on a switch and all the lights came on. He sent the town a bill … for $1,000.02 … itemized as follows: Tapping 2¢. Knowing where to tap, $1,000. – Garson Kanin, TV Guide

Monkey business Recently I read an article about capuchin monkeys being raised and trained to help people with disabilities. Also known as the organ grinder monkey, they are very smart. They can fetch a drink, bring a prepared sandwich from the Bernice refrigerator, bring a book or TV Abrahamzon channel control, all sorts, of things. One man, unable to get out of a chair, could be waited on efficiently by a capuchin. One day he indicated he wanted a sandwich and the monkey fetched it but couldn’t resist the temptation to take a bite, out of the sandwich. They monkey knew that was wrong and went yowling into his cage and shut the door, looking out anxiously to see his master. The master had to laugh in spite of himself and said, “You can come out.” The monkey came out and lay at his feet, looking up to see if he was forgiven. I read, too, that some funds are diverted from the Paralyzed Veterans of America to advance the Helping Hands: Simian Aids to the Handicapped. That’s an interesting fact. The author of the article conceded that such fetching could be done by robots, but it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun. When I lived in Milwaukee, it was not unusual to see an organ grinder and his capuchin downtown. The man would play a tune, attract a crowd, and the monkey would charm everyone in the crowd. He was dressed in a cute little outfit and would take off his little cap and pass it around for a few coins. We were all smiling and clapping and couldn’t resist making a donation. I suppose these days it would be considered animal cruelty, although the animal seemed to enjoy doing it. We thought he was very engaging. One of the children on my home place on Oconomowoc Lake had a pet monkey. It was quite and shock to walk under an apple tree and have that little imp jump down on my shoulder.

BEHIND THE

SIGNPOST

Good thought Teach me to feel another’s woe, To hide the fault I see That mercy I to others show That mercy show to me. – Alexander Pope (1688-1744) Until next week, Bernice

pants may spend time indoors and outdoors, weather permitting, so parents should dress their children accordingly. Interstate Park is located in St. Croix Falls, on Hwy. 35 just one-half mile south of Hwy. 8. The event is free of charge, but a Wisconsin State park sticker is required to enter the park. Annual passes for 2007 are $25 for Wisconsin residents or $35 for nonresidents. Daily passes are $7 for residents or $10 for nonresidents. Hourly passes are $5. For more information about the evening, call Julie at 715-483-3747. – from Interstate Park

Military ski free day set at Trollhaugen DRESSER – In a show of support for local military personnel and their families, Trollhaugen Recreation Area is proud to host a ski free day for all active members of the military and their families. Starting at noon on Sun., Jan. 28, all active military persons and their families are invited to ski or snowboard free for the day. Lift tickets, rental equipment and lessons will be complimentary (lesson reservations must be made by phone prior to the event). The management and staff at Trollhaugen support

Compiled by Bernice Abrahamzon

50 Years Ago The movie at the Webb Theatre, Webster, was “The Big Sky” starring Kirk Douglas. Coming was the film “Pillars of the Sky” starring Jeff Chandler and Dorothy Malone.-The tax list was published in this newspaper for the town of Clam Falls. Among the highest was $408 for Joe Bosak Jr., $430 for Allan Fahland, $583 for Andrew Karl, $339 for Lewis Feed Co., $660 for Jack Nahkala, $835 for Osborne, $408 for Arvid Pearson and $390 for Westlund Bros.-Mr. And Mrs. Evertt Bergstron celebrated their silver wedding anniversary with an open house at the Atlas Methodist Church on Jan. 20.-Frederic pulpwood shipments for 1956 totaled 148 railroad cars.The Bone Lake Creamery paid $7,000 in Land O’ Lakes certificates.-Jobless payments in 1956 were $24,005,900.-Bone Lake Farmers Union sponsored a roller-skating party at Frederic Recreation on Jan. 21.-Frederic’s Clover Farm Stores advertised ground beef at 3 lbs. for 99¢, lettuce at 10¢ a head and 50 lbs. flour for $3.39. Free coffee and cookies were served Jan. 18-19.-Specials at Route’s Super Market, Frederic, included T-bones at 69¢ lb., sirloin steak at 59¢ lb., Russet potatoes at 50 lbs. for 95¢.-There was a chimney fire at the Clair Trott farm near Siren. The Trotts lived on the former Dora Israel place.

40 Years Ago The Northwest Regional Writers had a column “Peeks into the Past” edited by Ruth Bunker Christiansen published in this newspaper.-Specials at the Frederic Co-op Store included grapefruit at 10 for 47¢, lb. Carrots at 9¢ and Texas cabbage at 9¢ lb.-The Frederic Auto Co. Inc. advertised used cars including 1966 Chevy Bel Air, 1965 Olds Starfire, 1965 Chevy. Impala, 1965 Olds Jet Star I Coupe, 1964 Chevelle station wagon, 1962 Ford Thunderbird coupe, etc.-The movie “This Property is Condemned” starring Natalie Wood was playing at the Frederic Theatre.-Winners in the Siren Home Decorating Contest at Christmas were Mr. And Mrs. Sam Williamson Jr., Mr. And Mrs. William Tjader and Mr and Mrs. Les Tjader.-Milk production in Wisconsin was low in most of 1966.-A New Year’s Dance was held at West Sweden Hall with music by Dickie Durand; hats and noisemakers provided.-Clover Farm Specials at Frederic included fryers at 25¢ lb., roasters at 39¢ lb., bananas 10¢ lb. And 2 lbs. popcorn at 29¢.-Obituaries included Norman Dalsveen and Edith Valkenberg.-Do you remember Carlson’s Our Own Hardware, Ben Franklin Store, Early Oil Company (with greetings from Wallace, Gene, Gothard, Frank, Pork and Dick), Sears Catalog office, Lawson Greenhouse, Young & Rich Auto Sales, all located in Frederic.

20 Years Ago

Wisconsin Interstate Park

ST. CROIX FALLS – A popular program for preschool children and their parents has started again this winter at Wisconsin Interstate Park. Thursdays at 10 a.m., January through March, naturalist Julie Fox will share a story and activity with preschoolers and their parents at the Ice Age Center. A short activity following the story will reinforce the story’s nature-related theme. Nature story time will generally last between 30-45 minutes, depending on the participants. “It is a great opportunity for parents to get out to the park with their little ones during this time of the year,” commented Fox. Partici-

Do you remember ?

our military and are offering this fun, free family day to show appreciation for the dedication of our troops. To take advantage of this ski free day, military personnel and families must present a current military ID at the Trollhaugen ticket office. Trollhaugen Ski Area is located just 50 minutes north of Minneapolis/St. Paul, Minn., in Dresser. More information on Trollhaugen is available at www.trollhaugen.com. – from Trollhaugen

The Leader is a cooperative-owned newspaper

The Broaster House in Grantsburg celebrated its 10th anniversary.-Bob Becker wrote about his visit with Esther Gibbs, Spooner, author of “We Went ALoggin” and “This…That…and Tuther.”-North States Industries, Siren, was burglarized over the weekend according to plant personnel manager, Dale Hutton, with a loss of tools, microwave oven and tool cabinet. Approximately $1,500 in damages. This is the third time the plant has been broken into in the past three years.-Mrs. Edwin Babcock wrote news for White Pine Mag; Gwen Klotz wrote for Yellow Lake; Mrs. Leonard Chell wrote for Alpha.-A Siren student, Jill Kopecky, won the annual Voice of Democracy Contest held among schools in Burnett County.-The 12th annual Ridge Runners breakfast was held at the Grantsburg Inn on New Year’s Day, attracting a group of 86 club members and guests. Ron Aldorfer was named the male athlete of the year, and Judy Marek won the award for females. John Oare was the rookie of the year and Joan Allaman was the female rookie.-The Burnett County Historical Society’s third-annual fishing contest drew close to 2,500. No one caught the tagged $1,000 fish. Approximately 300 fish were registered and 150 drawing prizes were given away.

Brought to you by

OLSEN & SON

Serving the community since 1882

Siren Drug Store Pharmacy Phone 349-2221 • Fax 349-7350

Tom Moore, Owner Tom Giswold, Pharmacist

PAGE 6 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER 320-242-3933 A very pleasant aspect of living out here in the townships of Arna and New Dosey is the way in which neighbors will pitch in and help out when called to do so. Such was the case with Bob Brewster when I asked him to write this column for four weeks. A huge thank-you is extended to Bob for doing a wonderful job. The comments are still coming in about the wit, attention to detail and overall writing quality of his work. Those of us who attended the musical get-together for former New Dosey town clerk, Dave Lynas, enjoyed the camaraderie, good food and the jug band music that was played. Dave Baker surprised everyone by taking the microphone and singing. Quilting is in season these days. Mary Schaaf, except for a trip to Mora for auto maintenance, has been making a quilt for a baby to be born shortly to a young relative. The Zion Lutheran Church had three of its members, Sandi Drake, Pam Berg and Ruth Ament working on quilts which will be sent to the Lutheran World Relief Fund for distribution to refugee camps throughout the world. This group of church quilters, which includes two women from Wisconsin, makes about 20-25 quilts per year. Patty Koehler and Diane Crane, Siren, met with their quilter’s group in

Cloverton - Markville Spooner last week at the Northwind Book and Fiber Store where they learned the skill of card weaving. Deloris Schirmer thinks she has won the war against mice finally. She had to deal with dozens in her garage for several months, but says things are all quiet again. She speaks for many of us out here. Allen Wolf had a wonderful time with his granddaughter, Danielle, at her first-time ski lessons at Spirit Mountain in Duluth, Minn., a while back. Danielle is 7 years old and proved to be a real trooper out there on the slopes. Nicholas Rogalski, grandson of Jerry Blokzyl, and his girlfriend, Emily, surprised Jerry and Shirley with a visit recently. Their visit came on the heels of a belated Christmas celebration with Shirley’s mom in McGregor. Two sad events occurred with the deaths of Darlene Merimonte’s brother, John DeCorry, White Bear Lake, Minn., and Jim Vink’s sister, Elsie Christensen, Cannon Falls, Minn. Our sympathies to the families and friends. Evelyn Johnson had quite a surprise when Pam Ellwein and Vicki Elliot picked her up one day to take her craft shopping. As it turned out, they had also planned a birthday dinner for her at the Paradise

Landing Supper Club in Balsam Lake. The next Wednesday, Evelyn joined her friend Zelda from Mora at Cassidy’s for another nice meal. Peter Fornengo and his sons, Dave and Pete, and grandson Peter III, did some wood cutting one Sunday recently while Emma enjoyed her great-grandchildren indoors. Ice-fishing was rather successful last Saturday for Ed, Bob and Dale Carlin and Dale’s girlfriend, Jenny Jorgensen. They caught both crappies and northern on Tamarack Lake. When Mark Allen and his wife, Paula, came up from Blaine to visit mom and dad, Helen and Jim, Mark brought some new faucets and installed them at their home. Carol Hasledalen got a very good progress report from her endocrinologist in Duluth last week. As you know, Carol had major surgery just above her eye. Her doctor is amazed at how well she is recovering. Speaking of belated Christmas gatherings, Carol and Gordy had one last weekend at son, Scott, and Brenda’s home in Pine City. Fran Ferguson returned home last week after two weeks in St. Cloud with her son, Gary Swenson, who had surgery. Gary is

Fran Levings also recuperating nicely and Fran is glad to be home. On the homefront, Dave’s son, Nic, came up for three days at the beginning of the month and he and Dave took three long walks in the woods. On one of the walks, they visited with Tim Gohla, a weekender who is building a log cabin from trees on his land. I toured the home of the King of Thailand, the Grand Palace, on my trip. King Rama IX is revered by the people of Thailand. He is 79-years old and has been king for 60 years, having taken the throne in 1946 when his 21-year-old brother was murdered. He is the longest reigning monarch on the planet. He was educated in the West, speaks four languages and is generous and kind. He personally gave much of his money to build homes for the poor Thai people who lost their homes in the ’04 tsunami. Just a heads-up, I won’t be writing this column when we have a three-day weekend. Not having e-mail, it is too difficult to meet the deadline. As they do in Thailand, I bow to you, wherever you are.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 7

TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER St. Croix Valley Senior Center We had our monthly meeting on Jan. 18. We had a very good potluck lunch before the meeting. The Jan. 16 afternoon domino winners were Ione Meixner in first place, Deloris Benson in second place, Janice Mevissen in third place. The 500 card winners were Muriel Randelin in first place, Artis Brown in second place, Don Benson in third place and Marion Edler in fourth place. Believe in yourself – what lies behind us and what lies ahead of us are tiny matters

compared to what lives within us. I was always looking outside myself for strength and confidence, but it comes from within us. It is there all the time. Very little is needed to make a happy life: It is all within yourself, in your way of thinking. Thursday, Jan. 18 evening 500 card winners were Roger Greenlee in first place, JoAnn Gehrman in second place, Cliff Qualle in third place, and Mary Lou Lund in fourth place.

Siren Senior Center

Barb Munger

349-7249 The center seems to be back to normal after our last week’s lull. The monthly meeting was held on Tuesday and according to our treasurer’s report, we had a successful year thanks to our fundraising events, the two card groups, our craft shop and the rental of our building. The January birthdays were celebrated at dinner, and as usual we had a good turnout. In the afternoon we had our usual session of dime-bingo with 16 players participating. Remember we play every Tuesday beginning at 1 p.m. We have found a nesting place for the abundance of books that have been donated the last few months. Another angel, Mark Munger, from Maplewood, Minn., has built and donated a bookcase to the center and we are now able to display all of our books, so be sure and come in and have a look. We have good intentions of putting them all in alphabetical order according to authors but I don’t think that task will happen overnight. Two more angels to add to our list were donations of $100 from Jodi and James Nelson of Maplewood, Minn., and a $50 donation from Carol Johnson. Also, a thank-you to Char Flystad who donated a smaller bookcase this week. Millie has glommed unto that one to display her articles in the craft shop, and Mil-

lie is also requesting some of your handiwork out there as her inventory is getting low. The next event coming up is Dining at Five on Feb. 1. Shirley is planning on serving baked chicken and dumplings, salad bar, asparagus and apple crisp, the usual rolls, coffee and milk. You can make your reservation by calling 349-2845 or stopping in and signing up. Those seniors, you’ve got to love them. Would you believe that 30 people came out in the cold on Wednesday for 500 and 29 for spades on Friday. You are a hardy bunch. We have 500 every Wednesday and spades every Friday starting at 1 p.m., and everyone is welcome. Our winners for 500 were, Lloyd Nelson, Corrine Root, tied for third and fourth place Don Antiel and Don Heavey and fifth Dave Peterson. Winners for spades were, Dwaine Bentley, Maeve Turek, Sue Newberger, Millie Hartshorn and Eleanor Bonneville. On Wednesday our two birthday girls, Dorothy Cronquist and Marjorie Nyberg treated the 500 players to cake, ice cream and snacks. They are both going strong at 91 years young. May you have many more. Until next week, stay warm and healthy.

Siren

349-2964

Another week has gone by, and still we are looking for some measurable snow. I’m sure many of the people living in Colorado and Nebraska would gladly give us a couple of their storms, as they have had great plenty. This year even us bird feeders have noticed a big difference in the amount and variety of birds at the feeder. It must not be cold enough north of us for them to migrate further south this year. Last Wed., Jan. 17, Eleanor Poltie of Siren, celebrated her 92nd birthday with a little get-together. Those present were Warren and Mary Anne Habel, Ann Kessler, Beatrice Johnson of Grantsburg, and Paul and Grace Sexton, plus the residents of the 4th Avenue apartments. Mary Anne served lunch and a great time was had by all. Beatrice Johnson, formerly of the Falun and Siren area, as many of you know, wrote the Falun news for 30 years for both the Leader and the Sentinel. Congratulations to third-grader Alexi Gloot, middle-schooler Heather Bearheart and senior Kimberly Lindberg, for being chosen Siren schools students of the

Bev Beckmark

week. Keep up the good work kids. All you brides and grooms, this is it. The Wedding Showcase is here this Sunday, Jan. 28, at the Northwoods Crossing Event Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The program consists of a wedding extravaganza show and exhibit, a complete wedding style show at 2:30 to 3:30 p.m., plus a wine-tasting bar and much more for your perfect wedding. The admission is free for all the show events, and you’ll get a lot of ideas for that perfect wedding day. Art and Bev Beckmark spent Saturday afternoon visiting at the home of Peggy Strabel out on Waldora Road. Her sons, Dan Strabel and Jim Keyes, plus grandson Alan Strabel, also visited with her. The 29th-annual ice-fishing contest of Danbury area put on by the Danbury Lions Club is coming up this Sat., Jan. 27, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Burlingame Lake. Cash prizes for the largest fish in many categories plus you can register to win several savings bonds. Plus there are many door prizes.

Births Born at Amery Regional Medical Center: A boy, Aiden Matthew Donovan, born Jan. 6, to Catherine Donovan, Clear Lake. Aiden weighed 5 lbs., 141/2 oz. ••• A girl, Tianna Roze Zemke, born Jan. 7, to Kacey Zemke and Michael Nelson, Clayton. Tianna weighed 9 lbs., 6-1/2 oz.

••• A girl, Kayna Lynn Case, born Jan. 9, to Laura Boche-Case and Linn Case, Clear Lake. Kayna weighed 5 lbs., 81/2 oz. ••• A girl, Claire Christine Novak, born Jan. 11, to Julie and Michael Novak, Amery. Claire weighed 7 lbs., 7 oz.

Happy Tails Await Dooley is a 2-year-old black Lab mix male. He came to the shelter as a stray but has obviously learned some manners at his previous residence. Dooley is smart and friendly; he sits for treats, loves attention and, in general, wants to be a loving companion. He would make an excellent family pet, returning all of the love and kindness he is shown. Your dog tips over the kitchen trash can whenever she is left alone. You scold her when you get home, but she continues to dump the trash. Only now she cowers and has that “guilty” look when you arrive home. Well, she obviously knows she’s doing wrong, right? Wrong! Those “guilty” looks are only submissive postures to show that she knows you’re angry, but she doesn’t know why. She’s going to associate your anger with whatever she was just doing, like that enthusiastic greeting she gave you at the door the moment before you yelled at her. That is why punishment is such an impractical and sometimes damaging way of training your pets. For punishment to be effective, you would have to catch your pet in the act every time she does it. And that’s not so easy to do. It’s impossible to do, when the behavior happens when you are not home. Sometimes people think that they should not have to alter their lifestyle in any way to accommodate a pet; the pet should adapt to them. In general, this is true. Pets must learn to behave in order to live with humans and believe me, they are making concessions in their behavior every day. Hello, Fritz here! I hope everyone is enjoying the winter as much as I am. There’s just something wonderful about the fresh nip of cold air on the nose and making yellow squiggle pictures on new white snow…aroooo, it’s good to be a dog! Speaking of squiggles, the bulldog mix puppies have joined me full time here at the shelter. Here’s a picture of two of them. The angels say they will be ready for visitors next week so make plans to come see them. Honestly, I’m getting dog tired of all the fuss over these pups. It’s all the angels talk about is what the puppies are doing and how people have called from exotic places like New York and Michigan to ask about them. Grrrruff! New York and Michigan probably have fleas anyways! So let’s talk about Pixie instead, who was adopted and went north to Superior with her new furever family – woof, was she a happy girl! And it looks like Harley and Ralph will be adopted also. They can’t wait to see their new homes, Harley has been here quite awhile with me, and Ralph is an old guy who needs an extra-soft bed. We had three new boys picked up from River Road in the Grantsburg area. Toast is shades of brown just like toast, maybe a German shepherd, malamute mix. Tyson is a big, friendly, black and white Newfoundland mix. And Vance is…well Vance is big, orange and white, really nice. The angels scratched their

Dooley However, in some instances, you’ll have more success modifying your pet’s behavior if you simply change the environment so the “bad” behavior is no longer possible or fun. Move the trash can, so your pet can’t reach it; or put a lid on it, so she can’t get into it. The same applies to house soiling, chewing or scratching. If your cat is scratching the couch, change the texture by adding clear packing tape to the scratched area or make it smell bad with muscle rubs or perfumes. Offer the alternative of a scratching post next to the couch and reward her whenever she uses it. Provide a rawhide or bone as a substitute for your new slippers. Coat household items with a bitter, pet-safe substance or put your shoes in a closed closet, if chewing is a problem. Remember that removing the opportunity for unfavorable behavior is the easiest and most effective way of modifying unacceptable habits. Instead of stopping “bad” behaviors, start thinking about how to get your pet to do “good” behaviors, so you can reward her. Arnell Memorial Humane Society, 185 Griffin St. E, Amery, 715-268-7387 or visit our adoptable pets online at: www.amhs.petfinder.com heads quite awhile trying to decide what kind of dog Vance might be! The angels wanted me to say a quick word about winter chemicals. If you Fritz walk your dog on roads or sidewalks NEWS FROM that have been salted, you should clean him off when the walk is over. We dogs just naturally keep ourselves clean and the salt we lick off our feet and belly can make us sick. Even worse is antifreeze (ethylene glycol) that humans use in cars. Never leave antifreeze out where any animal might be able to lap it up. Be very careful you haven’t spilled or are leaking antifreeze. It smells and tastes sweet to us animals but is deadly! Enjoy the wonderful winter safely! With your help HSBC is saving lives, one at a time. www.hsburnettcty.org, 715-866-4096.

YOUR SHELTER

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TOWN TALK/COUNTRY CHATTER Lewis

653-4281 Two birthdays were celebrated on Sunday at the Lewis church, those of Ann Nelson, daughter of Marlene and Scott Nelson and Bernice Abrahamzon. Sheila Staples and Marlene joined forces behind the serving counter to serve goodies after the service. Nice to have friends linger and visit. Ann had a birthday party Saturday night at her home. Sylvia and Phil Schaetzel sang a duet during the offertory. The choir also sang a special number. Nice to have choir back after a brief holiday vacation. Nice, too, to have LaVonne Smith back in church after her brief hospital stay and recuperation at home. News from snowbirds indicates it has been chilly in Tucson, Ariz., and other getaway places where our snowbirds gather. Everyone is invited to save pop tabs, education labels on cereal boxes, soup labels, Kemps milk caps, Kemp cottage cheese lids, etc. (All useful recyclables!)

In checking with friends, a lot of people are taking advantage of winter weather, staying inside the house and cleaning out cupboards, closets and drawers. Also, a good time to catch up on letter-writing, rereading Christmas letters and notes. Good time to read those books and pass them on to others. Sharen Kaatz had an item in The Courier published at the Veterans Home in King, where she and Ed reside. The title is “Senior Exercise Suggestion.” “A friend just shared this exercise for seniors to build muscle strength in the arms and shoulders. It’s so easy I thought I’d pass it on. The article suggested doing it three times a week. Begin by standing on a comfortable surface, where you have plenty of room at each side. With a 5-lb. potato sack in each hand, extend your arms straight out from your sides and hold them there as long as you can. Try to reach a full minute, then relax. Each day you’ll find that you can hold this position for

Webster Senior Center Following the nutrition meal on Monday, 15 people attended our senior center monthly meeting. Plans were made to have a buffet luncheon with free bingo on Sat., Feb. 17, starting at noon. There will be 15 games played or play until 3 p.m., whichever comes first. Children are welcome to attend if accompanied by an adult. We were also informed that Eldon Freese, Grantsburg, has scheduled 55 Alive senior driving refresher classes to be held at the Webster Senior Citizen Center on Monday and Tuesday, April 9 and 10, from 1 to 5 p.m. Call Jane at 715-866-8602 to leave your name and phone number if you are interested in attending. Also call your auto insurance company to see if they will give you a reduction in premium after completing this course. Finances were also discussed, and I was asked to remind people that our beautiful center is available to rent for private parties. The cost is only $50 with a $100 security deposit that gets returned after the center is left in clean and orderly condition. It will be free of charge to nonprofit organizations. Our premises are nonsmoking and no alcoholic beverages allowed. Also, we would appreciate it if someone would volunteer to stop at the center after a snowfall and shovel off the front sidewalk and by the back door so that it is cleared in the morning before people start arriving at the center. After the meeting, Margel Ruck, Jane Wardean and I stayed and played three games of golf cards and had cookies and coffee, and lots of laughs. After lunch on Tuesday, Gladys Beers, Margel Ruck, Lily Gleason, Deb Korhonen and Barb (last name unknown) played several games of golf cards while Dave Wardean and Lee Pomerleau finished building the storage area in the front entry. You did a beautiful job guys. Thanks a bunch! The three tables of dime bingo players had a great time on Wednesday afternoon in addition to enjoying the refreshments at halftime. Margel Ruck and sister, Doreen, took their mother, Olive Gehrke of Balsam Lake, to the Milltown Senior Center where they enjoyed a delicious lunch. In the evening they treated Olive to dinner at the Grand Casino Buffet in Hinckley as Olive was celebrating her 91st birthday. We hope you have many more happy and healthy birthdays to celebrate, Olive. The Webster Lioness Club met on Thursday evening at

the Webster Community Center where they met early to take the Christmas tree down and then enjoyed a potluck supper before having their monthly meeting. Plans were made for their annual Valentine’s Buffet Luncheon and bingo/card party to be held on Sat., Feb. 10, from noon to 3:30 p.m. The cost of the entire event is only $4 per person. Children are also invited if accompanied by an adult. Dolly Peterson was subcook on Friday and prepared a delicious and tender roast beef dinner. She was very appreciative of the help she received from Gladys Packer and Lily Gleason in Carol Berglind’s absence. Carol had knee surgery during the week so will be off duty recovering for a while. Mert Kisselburg and Gladys Beers enjoyed having lunch on Saturday with seven other ladies from the Racy Red Hatters with Hattitudes at the White Tail Wilderness, Webster. Deb Korhonen attended a belated family Christmas get-together at the home of her sister, Judy Baker, on Saturday. Judy’s five children and families attended along with a few close friends. Great food and fun was had by all. Gratitude is extended to the anonymous donor of aluminum cans; Gladys Beers for refilling the candy dish with an assortment of yummy treats; and Lily Gleason, Carol Berglind and Harold Peterson for clearing the snow off the front walk and by the back door on Monday. What were you thinking Carol? You were supposed to be taking care of that knee before surgery. Our get-well wishes and prayers continue to go out to Lavonne Engelhart, Don Peterson, Fran Arnold, Kathy Beyer, Donna Doriott, Bud and Norma Martin, Ray Hammerschmidt and Carol Berglind. It is my feeling that a person’s home is a resting place for the heart. You can take away the house, but you can’t take away the home. Home is truly where the heart is. Anywhere I hang my hat is home. America is my home, home is my family and my friends. Mi casa, su casa – my home is your home! Some people have that special gift of hospitality, of making you welcome in their home, no matter how frugal or how fancy it may be. Some people may lose their homes through disastrous situations, but if they have accepted Jesus as their savior, then can be assured of a permanent heavenly home. “This world is not my

Candlelight night at the park ST. CROIX FALLS – The Friends of Interstate Park invite you to Candlelight Night at the Park on Saturday, Feb. 10, from 6 – 9 p.m. Experience a winter evening by candlelight as hundreds of candles are lit to guide skiers, snowshoers and hikers on separate trails. Come when you can, ski at your own pace on the Quarry Cross-Country Ski Trail. Snowshoers will discover the winter solitude of Lake O’ the Dalles (snowshoes are available for use free of charge for ages 6 and up). Hikers can enjoy a candlelit walk beside the St. Croix River. There will be hiking opportunities no matter the snow conditions!

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This is an event you won’t want to miss! Mark your calendar today and plan to attend Candlelight Night at the Park on Saturday evening, Feb. 10. Interstate Park is located in St. Croix Falls, on Hwy. 35 just one-half mile south of Hwy. 8. The event is free of charge, but a Wisconsin State park sticker is required to enter the park. Annual passes for 2007 are $25 for Wisconsin residents or $35 for nonresidents. Daily passes are $7 for residents or $10 for nonresidents. Hourly passes are $5. For more information about the evening, call Julie at 715-483-3747. – from Interstate Park

Dewey - LaFollette

Dick and Shirley Quinton visited Sue and Roger Mroszak Tuesday, and they played some cards. Wednesday visitors of Hank and Karen Mangelsen were Dirk Benzer and Randy Schacht. Karen and Hank Mangelsen called on Marlene and Bruce Swearingen Thursday afternoon. Sue and Roger Mroszak went to Woodbury, Minn., Saturday and stayed overnight with Dick and Phyllis Ehlers. They visited, played cards and returned home Sunday. Saturday supper guests of Hank and Karen Mangelsen

Karen Mangelsen

were Larry, Celie, Baxter, Jake, Hannah and Grace Mangelsen. Judy Albee visited Beverly Brunclik Saturday evening. Karen and Hank Mangelsen joined other family members for lunch at the home of Jake and Holly Mangelsen Sunday. Birthdays of Celie and Baxter Mangelsen were celebrated. Karen Mangelsen with be collecting La Follette real estate taxes and dog license fees at her home Wednesday, Jan. 31.

Bernice Abrahamzon just a bit longer. After a couple of weeks move up to 10lb. potato sacks. Then use 50-lb. potato sacks and eventually try to get to where you can lift a 100-lb. potato sack in each hand and hold your arms straight for more than a full minute. After you feel confident at that level, put a potato in each of the sacks.” All right, all right! To exercise your mind, read a book, listen to an educational tape, enroll in a night class at a local school, watch Channel 2, listen to Wisconsin Public Radio, get a library card at your local library, enroll in a correspondence course, etc. Lots of self-help ideas around. Sharen and Ed Kaatz were former residents of the Trade Lake community, then sold their place and moved to Big Gust Apartments, and evenually to King. Both of them have health problems.

Mary Klar home, I’m just passing through; my treasures are laid up, somewhere beyond the blue. They’re all expecting me, from heaven’s open door, and I cannot feel at home in this world anymore. Oh Lord, you know, I have no friend like you. If heaven’s not my home, then Lord, what shall I do? The angels beckon me from heaven’s open door, and I cannot feel at home in this world anymore.”Unknown. “In my father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.”-St. John 14:2 & 3. See you at the center!

Orange LaVonne O’Brien Webster hosted the seventh-grade boy’s basketball tournament on Saturday. Webster won games over Rush City, Duluth East, Gray and Chisago Lake, Gold; but lost the final game to Cloquet. Kent and Nancy Krause and the Mark Krause family were dinner guests of Fran Krause Sunday evening to celebrate Mark’s birthday. Kathryn Krause was at the Wood Lake Camp over the weekend. Allyson Krause visited Maxine Stone last week. Sunday she returned to school in Stevens Point. Fran Krause helped at the dance after the basketball game Friday evening. It was a benefit for Dollars for Scholars. LaVonne O’Brien and Fran Krause attended the HCE board meeting on Tuesday. Jack and LaVonne O’Brien were shoppers in Superior on Wednesday. Mike and Tylyn O’Brien and the Bob O’Brien family returned from a weeklong cruise with stops in the Bahamas, Cayman Islands and Mexico.

Frederic Senior Center

Ardyce Knauber

Spades was played at 1:30 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15, and the winners were: 1. Eleanor Bonneville 2. Hazel Hoffman 3. Lillian Murphy 4. Jim Bly. Wednesday, the gals played pokeno. 500 cards were played Thursday night at 6:30 p.m., and the winners were: 1. Marlys Borchert 2. Delores Potter 3. Arnie Borchert 4. Clifford Potter. We wish to send get-well-soon wishes to our senior member, Betty Schmietendorff. Saturday share-a-lunch included celebrating January birthdays: Donald Danielson, Robert Larsen and Arnie Borchert. We will have tax aides here from 9 a.m. to noon on Feb. 8 and March 15. Have a good week and drop in for coffee if you would enjoy company. We seniors have lots of winter memories to talk about.

F o l l o w t h e L e a d e r .

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Do you have a holiday spending hangover? The holidays are past, and now you may be feeling the weight of your spending decisions in December. Many Americans overspend during the holidays. Did you spend more money over the holidays than you wish you had? “It can be difficult to avoid the traps of sophisticated marketing techniques utilized during the holiday season,” says Marilyn Kooiker, Burnett County University of Wisconsin-Extension Family Living Educator. “Attractive holiday marketing displays lure shoppers into purchasing presents that they had no intention of purchasing merely because, at that moment, it looked like the perfect gift. Whatever the reason, overspending can leave us with a holiday spending hangover: increased debt.” Holiday spending hangovers can be a motivation to do things differently this year. Decide now how much you want to save for the next season. Set a specific dollar amount and identify a place you will be keeping your dollars. This will help keep you from creating debt this coming year. Then, while you are still feeling like you want relief from your debt, put your credit cards away and create a plan to repay your debt. There are some great online calculators to help you identify the amount needed to pay off your debt in a certain amount of time. See the Choose to Save Web site at www.choosetosave.org and Power Pay, a Web site supported by UW-Extension, at https://powerpay.org/. UW-Extension recommends five strategies you can use to take control over your credit card spending. 1) The most powerful and most difficult strategy is to stop carrying your credit card with you. The average household has 10 credit cards. If your credit card is not on your person, it decreases impulse spending and allows you time to find other creative solutions to a financial situation other than incurring more debt. 2) Make a plan before using your card. Choose a spending limit, develop a plan to repay the debt you are about create, or make a list of the items you intend to purchase with your credit card. A person is likely to spend 34 percent more simply by having a credit card available when they shop. 3) Discuss your intended use of your credit card with another person to help you brainstorm other alternatives. Sometimes it is difficult to access creative strategies and problem-solving skills when we are feeling anxious and stressed. Talking to a person who is not going to judge, but will partner with you in finding alternative solutions, can be very profitable. 4) Paying off your credit card debt over time may also deter use. Sometimes when people pay off substantial credit card debt all at once it creates a false sense of wealth, and the debt is

re-established within a year or two. If that has been your experience, pay off your credit card balances over time, allowing time for behavioral changes, suggests Kooiker. Marilyn 5) Give yourself a Kooiker 24-hour cooling off period before making a purchase. This works especially well with catalog purchases. The items are not BURNETT CO. quite as appealing the next day. The next step in preventing new debt is to start to build savings. If you do not have savings, you will eventually incur more debt. Saving money goes hand in hand with repaying debt. Next time the car needs repair you will have the money already saved and that will keep you from putting the repairs on your credit card. Start saving now for the next holiday season. Finally, use effective strategies for debt repayment. “There are many strategies,” Kooiker says, “but these three are very powerful, especially if you use them together.” • Strategy #1 The Power of Negotiation Find an alternate creditor that offers a lower rate. Not just a six-month offer, but also a permanent rate for the life of the loan or credit card. Next, call your creditor to tell them you are tempted to transfer your balance to another creditor and ask them if they would consider decreasing your interest rate to keep you as a customer. It doesn’t hurt you to make the call, even if they say no. • Strategy #2 Maintain Level Payments The strategy of maintaining level payments is to maintain the same level of payment even when the total amount due decreases. So, if your debt payment is $80 a month, you keep paying $80 a month toward your debt even when minimum payments decrease to $65 a month. The online tool Power Pay utilizes this strategy. You can access Power Pay at: www.http://extension.usu.edu/coop erative/powerpay// . • Strategy #3 Consistently Pay More Each Month Consistently paying a little extra each month, over time, can make a big impact on your debt. Mortgage loans are a great way to demonstrate how this works. For online calculators, see www.choosetosave.org . Using these strategies will stop the holiday hangover and prevent any more! Spending hangovers take more time to cure than party hangovers, but the feeling of satisfaction is enduring. When these strategies become second nature, you are building wealth. To learn more about family financial management, contact Marilyn Kooiker, Burnett County Family Living educator at the Burnett County Government Center, 349-2151.

FOCUS ON

FAMILY LIVING -

News from the service Amanda Howard, granddaughter of Jack and Carmen Overby, has completed her first semester at the United States Naval Academy, Annapolis, Md. She received three nominations for appointment last spring by both Kentucky U.S. senators and her U.S. representative. Howard graduated from Woodford County High School with a 4.10 grade-point average, and was ranked 10 out of a class of 266. She is a member of USNA Drum and Bugle Corps. Amanda is the daughter of Bruce and Margaret Howard, Versailles, Ky.

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POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS

Clear Lake Public Library The Clear Lake Book Club will meet Feb. 5, at 7 p.m. to discuss “Digging to America” by Anne Tyler. Walk-ins are welcome and refreshments are served. Wisconsin tax forms have begun to arrive at the library. Tax forms are also available on the Web and staff can help you locate what you need. February will be Food For Fines month at the library. For each nonperishable food item that you bring in, we will deduct $1 from your amount owed.

Items needed by the Lifeline Food Pantry include peanut butter, jelly, coffee, tea, flour and sugar. Mark your calendars On Feb. 14 beginning at 6:30 p.m. the library will host a pajama party. Come join us for stories, games and food. Hours Monday: noon - 7 p.m.; Tuesday and Friday: noon - 5 p.m.; Wednesday: 4 p.m. - 9 p.m.; Thursday: 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.; Saturday: 9:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.

Frederic Public Library The Frederic bake and book sale is coming! Mark your calendars for this big semiannual event on Feb. 8-9 and be sure to drop off your donations of gently used books, movies, music CDs and audiobooks ahead of time for the sale. We’re also looking for food donations for the bake sale – please bring in your homemade goodies the morning of Feb. 8. We’re looking forward to seeing you at our sale! Story time Wednesday mornings Frederic Library story time is open to all young children accompanied by their caregivers. Please join us Wednesday, Jan. 31, at 10:30 a.m. for 45 minutes of activities and stories about bedtime and bring your favorite sleepy-time toy. If you like to share stories with children, consider becoming a volunteer reader – grandparents are especially welcome! We supply the books, and you pick the dates. Tax forms are available The basic Wisconsin forms are here – stop in to pick up what you need. The library is a drop-off site for the food pantry When you come to the library, please bring an item or two for the local food

shelf – your donations will make you feel good and will help a family in need. Two book groups now meet at the library If you’re interested in sharing great books with good friends, there are now two groups that meet at the library. Both groups welcome visitors and new members – why not join both of them? Stop in to pick up your copies soon and become part of the conversation. The Evening Book Group will meet Thursday, Feb. 15, at 7 p.m. to discuss “The Glass Castle” by Jeannette Walls, an amazing memoir of growing up in a disfunctional yet brilliant family. The Thursday Morning Reading Group will meet Thursday, Feb. 22, at 10:30 a.m. to discuss “House of Sand and Fog” by Andre Dubus III, a novel in which three people, drawn by their competing desires for the same small house in the California hills and doomed by their tragic inability to understand one another, converge in an explosive collision course. Library hours at a glance Regular library hours are Mon. 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.; Wed., Thurs., Fri. 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. and Sat. 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. The library is closed on Tuesdays.

Centuria Public Library

Helping your child The new year has gotten off to a great start at the Centuria Public Library. In the first week of January, the library received a collection of books designed for the early fluent reader that likes to read for fun, along with learning facts about the specific topic of each book. The series is entitled Critter Chronicles and has 24 books that strive to develop reading comprehension and increase fluency in reading. The left-hand pages incorporate realistic photographs to enhance readers’ understanding of informational text. The right-hand pages engage readers with an entertaining, narrative story that is supported by whimsical illustrations. These are perfect books for a parent and child to read together. Some titles in the series are: “Fly Paper,” “Jellyfish Role,” “Sea Horse Races” and “Snake Charmer.” Check out the magazine collection A wonderful resource that all public libraries in Polk County have is the number of magazines available for the public to check out and read. Reviewing each magazine is an easy pastime and gaining relevant up-to-date information is quick if looking at a new monthly publication. In the January This Old House magazine there was a column on 10 Uses for Wood Ashes. With the winter season upon us and many people using wood stoves, this column provided several interesting uses for wood ashes. Did you know that a cord of firewood can produce 50 pounds of ashes - a formidable heap of soot but also a great source for a mineral-rich dust that has practical uses. Several of the suggestions were: 1. De-skunk pets. A handful rubbed

Every Child Ready to Read presented at Osceola Elementary School Colleen Gifford, Polk County librarian and Molly Kessler, assistant/youth services librarian, hosted a presentation entitled Every Child Ready to Read, at Osceola Elementary School. Children need to be knowledgeable of six skills to start on the road to reading. These skills are: print motivation, phonological awareness vocabulary, narrative skills, print awareness, and letter knowledge. Gifford and Kessler shared several tips for sharing books with young children. Make reading fun by finding a time when your child is in a good mood, use a happy tone, try fun voices, read to your children every day and visit your local library. – submitted

Balsam Lake Public Library Recycle Balsam Lake Public Library is now collecting empty inkjet cartridges for recycling. We receive up to $4 for each cartridge recycled. Cartridges can be deposited in our collection bin located in the hallway outside the library. No large laser cartridges are accepted with program. In addition to raising money for Balsam Lake Library, recycling inkjet cartridges has a positive impact on the environment. Less than 5 percent of the cartridges produced are recycled. Story time Story time is at 11 a.m. every Wednesday here at the library. All ages are welcome to join us for stories, crafts, music and snacks. January is Messy Art Month so wear old clothes and be prepared for some free messy fun! Last week some very creative projects were made! Special event Saturday, Jan. 27, is Art Day from 10 a.m. to noon. This free event is open to all ages. Please join us for a fun creative morning. Art supplies are furnished. Book club We will meet again Feb. 21, at 3 p.m., here at the library. Everyone and all ages are welcome. February’s book is

“The Devil in the White City” by Erik Larson. In “The Devil in the White City,” Erik Larson, author of “Isaac’s Storm,” tells the spellbinding true story of two men, an architect and a serial killer, whose fates were linked by the greatest fair in American history: The Chicago World’s Fair of 1893, nicknamed “The White City.” Friends of the Library The Friends group will be having a book sale in February, so this would be a great time to clean out those bookshelves and donate your books to the library. Love Those Used Books Sale will be Saturday, Feb. 17, here at the library. Get rid of the winter blues by curling up with a good book. Location, hours Balsam Lake Library, (under the water tower) at 404 Main St., Balsam Lake. Our hours are Monday 10 a.m. — 8 p.m., Tuesday 10 a.m. — 2 p.m., Wednesday 10 a.m. — 8 p.m., Friday 10 a.m. — 4 p.m., and Saturday 10 a.m. — 2 p.m. E-mail us at balsamlakepl.ifls.lib.wi.us. Web site is www.balsamlakepubliclibrary.org

Dresser Public Library

on Fido’s coat neutralizes the lingering oder. 2. Enrich compost. Before the organic compound gets applied to soil, enhance its nutriets by sprinkling in a few ashes, says Mike McGrath, host of the radio program You Bet Your Garden. Adding too much, though, can ruin the mix. 3. Block garden pests. Spread evenly around flower beds, ash repels slugs and snails. 4. Melt ice. TOH building editor Tom Baker finds it adds traction and de-ices without hurting the soil or concrete underneath. 5. Pump up tomatoes. For the calcium-loving plants, Mike McGrath places 1/4 cup right in the hole when planting. More suggestions are provided in the magazine - go to your local library and check out the magazine to read what they are. New materials arriving all the time Make sure you visit the Centuria Public Library to find out what else is new. We have been receiving the lastest published novels by the popular authors as soon as they are published. In addition, we have already been adding new books to our audiobook collection along with new DVD titles. Come into the library and look for the orange dots affixed to the spine of the book or item case that identifies it as a new item. We are looking forward to seeing you. Hours The Centuria Public Library is open Monday from noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday from noon to 7 p.m., Wednesday from noon to 5 p.m., Thursday from noon to 7 p.m., closed Friday, and open 10 a.m. to noon on Saturday.

Osceola Public Library The adult winter reading program, Cold Nights…Hot Reads, is now in full swing. To urge you on, we have added a number of new audio books to our collection. Titles like Janet Evanovich’s “Full Blast,” Tracy Chevalier’s “The Lady and the Unicorn” and J.A. Jance’s “Day of the Dead,” just to name a few. Don’t forget preschool story time is every Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

Hours, contact Our hours are Monday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from noon to 5 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Our phone number is 715-294-2310, and our Web address is www.osceolapubliclibrary.org.

Clear Lake Public Library

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 11

POLK COUNTY LIBRARY NEWS

Milltown Public Library Knit and crochet Join the most exciting group in Milltown at the library on the first and third Thursday of every month at 6 p.m. Experts and beginners are invited! Beginners are invited – free lessons will be provided! We are wireless Bring your laptops to the Milltown Public Library and enjoy our new, free, fast wireless Internet access. No more waiting for an open computer! Surf the net from a comfortable chair! No time limits! Story hour Milltown Public Library offers two story times every Tuesday. The morning story time begins at 10 a.m. Can’t make it in the morning? We will repeat the program at 6:30 p.m. Story times are

free and are designed for children under 6 and their caregivers. Each story time lasts 30 to 45 minutes and includes time to browse and checkout books. Book club Milltown Book Club is reading “Love in the Time of Cholera,” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. The book discussion is open to the public and will be held on Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. Refreshments will be served. Guests and new members are always welcomed. Hours Library hours are Monday and Tuesday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Wednesday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m., Thursday from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Amery Public Library Library notes More titles of fabulous memoirs to read in the winter months: “In Pharoh’s Army,” by Tobias Wolff, “If I Die in a Combat Zone,” by Minnesota’s Tim O’Brian, “Up From Slavery,” by Booker T. Washington, and “The Education of Henry Adams,” by Henry Adams. These books are available at the Amery Public Library. Story time will be held at 10:30 on Wednesday mornings. Everyone is welcome for songs and stories. The Teens Read Book Group will meet from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 29, to discuss “Invisible,” by Pete Hautmann. Pick up a book at the circulation desk if you are a teen and want to join us. Otaku Club for teens who like manga and anime meets every Tuesday from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Amery Public Library. The Friends of the Library Book Group will meet in February on a date still to be determined to discuss “Empire Falls” by Richard Russo. Pick

up a copy of the book at the circulation desk if you want to join this group which meets on a Monday evening at 7 p.m. normally the third Monday, but this third Monday is a holiday. Book sale The Friends of the Library Book Sale is coming up in February, so we are accepting books, movies, CDs in good condition . Please bring them when the library is open. The Amery Public Library Board will meet on the first Monday of the month at 6:15 p.m. which will be Feb. 5. The Amery Public Library has tax forms, Wisconsin and federal so stop in and pick up the ones you need. If we don’t have the one you need, we will try to print them off the Internet for you. Library Hours Mon. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., Tues. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Wed. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thurs. 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. , Fri. 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sat. 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Dresser Public Library Name of Library Dresser Public Library, 117 S. Central Avenue, Dresser, WI 54009. The Dresser Public Library Board of Trustees holds its monthly meeting on the last Monday of each month at 6 p.m. Library hours Monday 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Tuesday noon–5 p.m., Thursdays 10 a.m.–noon and 1–7 p.m., and Saturday 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Three Internet computers are up and running! You must physically present a MORE library card to library staff and library fines must be under $10 to use a computer. Story time Lapsitter and preschool story times begin at 10:30 a.m. on Thursdays. Join

us for stories, songs, fingerplays, crafts and more! Focus on 2007! Library Book Club interested parties should contact the library at 715-7552944. A meeting will be held on Jan. 25, however the meeting time has not been decided upon at this time. Contact the library at 715-755-2944 which is our telephone and FAX number or e-mail us at www.dresserpl@ifls.lib.wi.us. Our FAX is for library business only. Our Web site also has information about story times, days closed, etc.; the site can be accessed via www.dresserpubliclibrary@org. The reference site, “Ask Away” is now available through this address.

Luck Public Library Donate your books The Luck Public Library is gearing up for their annual Winter Carnival Book Sale. We will be selling weeded materials from our shelves as well as donated books, magazines, audios, games and puzzles. If you have things you would like to donate to our library sale, we will gladly take your items and give you a receipt for your taxes.

Speaking of taxes The Luck Public Library has most of the tax forms out now. If you are looking for a form we don’t have or one that has not been mailed to us yet, we will find it for you and print it off for free. Wisconsin tax forms are not in yet, but will be soon.

PAGE 12 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

Polk juniors excel at state Jr. Holstein convention POLK COUNTY - Twenty-three Polk County Junior Holstein members headed to Fond du Lac for the Wisconsin Junior Holstein Convention held Jan. 5-7. Nearly 500 Holstein enthusiasts attended the convention hosted by Dodge County Junior Holstein members. Polk County had two junior quiz bowl teams. Polk Gold team was made up of team members: Kristin Solum (Deer Park), and Bethany, Ethan, and Trent Dado, all of Amery. Polk-A-Dot team was comprised of team members: Hannah Johnson (Star Prairie), Katie Peper (Centuria), Alek Betzold (Amery), and Christopher Rassier (Osceola) with alternate Monique Slate of Centuria. Polk Gold won several rounds but was eliminated in the seventh round to the eventual second-place junior Dairy Bowl team. There were 40 junior quiz bowl teams entered. Jonathan Larsen (Centuria) participated on a Wisconsin junior combination team. In the junior jeopardy contest Ethan Dado advanced into the semifinals. Polk’s senior quiz bowl team was comprised of Mary Johnson, Jacob Loen, and Jessica Lundgren all of Cushing, and Hans Johnson of Star Prairie. Alternate team members were Amy Busby (St. Croix Falls) and Carole Peper (Centuria). Trent and Bethany Dado competed in the speaking contests. Bethany placed

The Polk County Juniors. Girls starting at top of staircase: Julia Larsen, Laura Byl, Kristin Solum, Hannah Johnson, Kelly Johnson, Bethany Dado, Katie Peper, Monique Slate, Mary Johnson, Amy Busby and Jesica Lundgren, Carole Peper, Melin and Hannah Meikah Dado. Boys (L to R): Hans Johnson, Johnathan Larsen, Jake Loen, Chase Dodds, Alek Betzold, Trent Dado, Chris Rassier, Hunter Dodds and Ethan Dado. – Photo submitted

second on her speech, “Milk . . .It is more than just calcium.” She earned a chance to represent Wisconsin in the speech contest at the National Junior Holstein convention in Knoxville, Tenn., this June. Trent’s topic was “Holsteins . . .Why are they so popular?” Jessica Lundgren received a $1,000 scholarship from the Wisconsin Holstein Association to aid in her studies at University of Wisconsin-River Falls. Katie Peper was recognized as a Younger Member Award recipient. The WHY (Wisconsin Holstein Youth) Award, given to advisors who dedicate their time and talent to junior members, was given to Sara Byl (Cushing), Cara Dueholm (Amery), and Patti Hurtgen (Amery) for their efforts in revitalizing the Polk County Junior Holstein club. Carole Peper made the presentation. Polk County was awarded the Spirit Award and was also recognized for winning the senior tug-of-war contest at the WI State Fair. The Spirit Award recognizes the county delegation that shows the most involvement in all levels of participation, enthusiasm among members, and overall interest. Carole Peper received a Lifetime Production Award for her cow, Pebst Metro 114. Peper also received a Junior Progressive Breeder Award for Pebst James 144.

In the arts and crafts competition, Laura Byl (Cushing) placed first in the senior craft division, and Kelly Johnson’s placed second. Hannah Melin (Cushing) was awarded the People’s Choice Award and in the senior art division, Julia Larsen’s drawing placed second. Kristin Solum was awarded third overall for her junior dairy bowl seating exam score. She was third out of 160 junior quiz bowl competitors. Johnson, along with Bethany Dado and Hannah Johnson prepared the Polk County scrapbook and entered it in competition. Juniors toured Budjon Farms in Lomira and Rosedale Holsteins in Oxford on their way to and from the convention. The Polk County Juniors will be heading to convention again next winter, when it will be held in Madison. The junior Holstein association is active in promoting and learning about Holsteins and dairy products. You can see these enthusiastic juniors in June serving ice cream in front of MarketPlace Supermarket promoting June is Dairy Month, or at Polk County Holstein events. – submitted

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 13

Knights and castles and catapults...oh, my! Tennis ball “shoot out” in Grantsburg Middle School gym by Carl Heidel GRANTSBURG - A problem-solving assignment by fourth-grade teachers in the Grantsburg Middle School quickly became a districtwide family event. After teaching the students about knights and castles and simple catapults...teachers machines...like Wendy Hoefs, Kim Nelson and Corrie Behling told the students they had to construct a machine that could hurl a

Jeremiah Stevens scores a direct hit on the target from 20 feet away.

Sighting in their pasta-scoop catapult on the target are (L to R): Heidi Schoettle and Sherice Hartley.

tennis ball 15, 20 or 25 feet to knock over empty water bottles sitting on top of an overturned tub. In other words, build a catapult. So when the assignment reached the students’ homes, dads and moms became engineers and advisors, and kids became supervisors and construction workers. The end result? A whole lot of interesting and unique catapults assembled in the middle school gym

last Friday afternoon for The Great Catapult Shoot-out of 2007. The photos tell the rest of the story.

Photos by Carl Heidel

Getting the catapult ready to fire was a joint project for Jacob Timmer (L) and Cameron Lee (R).

Lora Glover takes great care to load the tennis ball just so.

Waiting their turn to take their catapults to the firing line are (L to R): Dylan Oman, Samantha Griffith, Andrea Dumas, Jacob Timmer and Cameron Lee.

Ethan Henneman sets up his catapult on the firing line.

Ready anytime, Carolyn Peterson sits by her catapult.

Just say when. Laura Drohman is ready to fire her catapult.

PAGE 14 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

Frederic Sleigh Parade 2007

Event raises money for Spooner woman

by Regan Kohler FREDERIC - The sixth-annual Frederic Sleigh Parade Saturday, Jan. 20, at Frederic High School, saw beautiful weather and money raised for Marnie Housel of Spooner. Housel, a 1995 graduate of Spooner High School and teacher at Hayward High School, was part of a severe car accident in June 2006 that put her in a coma. Now recuperating, Housel suffered from brain injury as a result, and is still unable to live at home, though she got to return for the weekend. Parade organizer Liz Petersen, owner of Petersen Carriages, Frederic, with her husband Larry, said that she has known Housel since she was a little girl. Housel spent her whole life on horses, and Petersen said she remembered Housel as a child, barely able to stay on the horse while competing in barrell racing. “Marnie grew up on horses,” Petersen said. Every year, the event sponsors a cause, usually related to horses, and this is partly why Petersen said she chose Housel. “She was the logical person,” Petersen said. Housel’s father, Robert, was the Marnie Housel, Spooner, day’s steward for the parade. He braved the cold to watch the has helped judge the parade for all sleigh parade. Housel, who of its six years. Robert, Marnie and is recovering from a bad car Mary Housel, her mother, all were accident, was the day’s able to watch the parade on Satur- guest of honor. She is an day. Many Spooner and Hayward avid equestrian fan who residents also came to support the used to ride with the organizers, Liz and Larry Housels. Through freewill donations, $622 Petersen, since she was a was raised, with half to go to child. Housel and the other half to offset the cost of the event. Housel received $311, and also won a number of door prizes at the banquet. The donations came from spectators of the parade, and Petersen said that she was grateful, because despite there being a smaller crowd than last year, the amount was double the 2006 total. “Marnie was very tired by the end of the day, but she had a big smile on her face when she left,” said Petersen. The parade, which was held on the football field, saw 23 participants showcase their sleighs and horses. The Frederic royalty Queen Julia Haas, First Princess Dawn Harlander and Second Princess Emily Didlo - rode to “God Bless America” to kick the event off. The participants then rode around the field, judged by the Bodohs of St. Croix Falls. There were lots of vintage sleighs and clothing, with unique aspects of each one. A lot of the participants belonged to the Northwoods Harness Club, which has members from at least three states. After the parade, the awards ceremony was held with a luncheon in the school. Best Male and Best Female Driver awards were given to Lyle Jahn, St. Croix Falls, and Joan Kowalchyk, Ellsworth. Larry Petersen, Frederic, won Best Overall Antique Unit, for an 1886 Albany six-passenger sleigh in its original condition. The other winners for the day were: Kathy Logan, Ashland; Don Nindorf, Superior; Reg Behrens, Drummond; Lydia Rieneke, Cumberland; Charlie Singler, Ashland; Dan Jenson, Luck; and Liz Petersen, Frederic. Area businesses donated door prizes at the awards ceremony, including The Lodge at Crooked Lake, Best Western, The Experience, Adventures and Timbers Theater. Petersen said that the overnight getaways went to Drummond and Spooner residents. Petersen said that though the turnout wasn’t as large as last year, there were many people viewing from vehicles and on the snow, making a good-sized crowd braving the cold.

Joan Kowalchyk, Ellsworth, took home the Best Female Driver award for 2007.

Photos by Regan Kohler

2007 Frederic Sleigh Parade Participants:

Max Wilson Andrew James Pam Dunn Vicki Garo Tony Garo Kathy Logan Don Nindorf Reg Behrens Lydia Rieneke Charlie Singler Larry Petersen Liz Petersen Darwyn Brown Dan Jenson Phil Odden Luke Dahlberg Don Jackelyn Bob Blake Joan Kowalchyk Marilyn Blake Lyle Jahn Tom Nyren Ron Nyren

Draft Pair Draft Single Single Horse Small Pony Small Pony Small Pony Pair Large Pony Pair Single Horse Single Small Pony Draft Pair Horse Pair Single Large Pony Draft Pair Single Draft Single Pony Pair Single Large Pony Single Horse Horse Pair Single Horse Single Horse Horse Pair Pair of Mules

Hugo, Minn. Superior Hertel Superior Superior Ashland Superior Drummond Cumberland Ashland Frederic Frederic Frederic Luck Barronett Solon Springs River Falls Frederic Ellsworth Frederic St. Croix Falls Luck Frederic

Larry Petersen, Frederic, won for Best Overall Antique Unit, an 1886 Albany six-passenger sleigh.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 15

Frederic Sleigh Parade 2007

Charlie Singler, Ashland, won a first-place trophy with his draft pair.

This bobsled was driven by Ron Nyren, Frederic. The Coast Guard Cutter, driven by Kathy Logan and her husband, both sailors from Ashland, drew laughs from the crowd.

Max Wilson, Hugo, Minn., rides his family’s draft pair. Wilson developed the sleigh parade calendar.

Photos by Regan Kohler

Liz Petersen, Frederic, one of the event’s organizers, led the parade with her single, large, Welsh pony.

PAGE 16 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

Upper Register

A musical guide to Burnett County

Denied

The headline on the band’s MySpace page reads, “You Have Been Denied,” but this is certainly not the case for the Webster-based band. Denied, a “straight-up metal” band, according to lead guitarist Chris Quick, has been around for about six years. The current lineup consists of Quick, lead singer Ken Macke, bassist T.J. Peterson, drummer Allen Holcomb and rhythm guitarist Garett Schroeder. “I’ve known Ken since forevA musical er,” Peterson said of the band’s guide to to very beginning. Peterson said he played any- NW Wisconsin thing he could get his hands on throughout his youth, including Regan high school concert band. “I’ve been doing this since Kohler birth,” he said. Quick said he began his interest by working at shows in Southern California, on the Sunset Strip, where the music scene, especially punk

UPPER Register

Denied performed at the Stone Pony’s Metalfest last November in Spooner. – Photos by Regan Kohler

Drummer Allen Holcomb rock, has a huge mainstay. Macke had also been playing his whole life and was looking to be in a full band. All the members said they knew being in a band was inevitable in their futures. “It’s all fate,” Quick said, adding that it feels like a family. Peterson and Macke grew up in Webster, while the others relocated from either Superior or Menomonie, originally. Quick and Holcomb, who are brothers, came to Webster and held auditions for a band, Force of Habit. Macke hooked up with them after hearing about auditions on the Internet. Schroeder, Macke knew through a mutual friend and met him when they did a show in Superior. The band had a hard time with bass players until Peterson joined them. The brothers had brought their former band to the area with them, but Quick likened the bassist changeup to the drummer in the movie “This is Spinal Tap” — a different one in every show. Then Peterson came, and with three of the original members, Denied came to be. “This is the real lineup,” Quick said. “We’re rocksolid now.” However, the band then had to go through some name changes. Other people had registered their original name. “This was like the third time we’d done it,” said Quick, adding that he complained they kept getting “denied.” The band then put a bunch of names in a hat, and Quick’s son was the one who chose Denied out of it. “I’m glad he drew Denied,” Quick said. Denied’s metal sound is drawn from a bunch of influences. They write all their own songs, although Quick said every once in awhile, they throw in a Slayer cover. Quick said that they are strictly called metal, because there are way too many sub-genres nowadays: metalcore, hardcore, death metal.

“Whatever happened to just metal?” asked Quick. The band experiments with sound, which Quick said makes them different, because then their fans respond to it and he knows the fans are there for them. A rhythm guitar, Quick feels, gives the band a better all of sound. “You soak up every influence around you,” is how Quick described their music. “I like experimentation.” Macke said the band’s themes revolve around government, religion and robots — “those that ... don’t follow the beat of their own drum,” he explained. “Everything that we do is feeling-based,” added Quick, adding that none of them read music, but play by ear. The band released a full-length album in 2003, called “Twisted Fate.” At the release party, they met their current manager, Lisa Smith, Webster. Smith said she had known the band for six months, and knew they were having trouble with their current manager, so they appointed her instead. The band now has a demo on their MySpace page, with four tracks available for listening. Quick and Peterson said the sound has progressed since their first album, becoming more aggressive. “I like the newer stuff,” Peterson said. Denied has a wide fan base of all ages. “One of our biggest fans is 70 years old,” said Peter-

son. All of the members, who have day jobs in different fields, said they want to play without the prices of committing to a label’s wants. Peterson said many good bands can become ruined by a label changing them into what the mass culture likes rather than maintaining individuality. He said that though he doesn’t want to be on MTV, he would like to be able to perform in a band full time as a job, without having to make ends meet through jobs. Bigger venues are one goal, however. Quick said that being on magazine covers would mean sponsors, which would be nice, but it’s not a priority. The band would rather be in complete control of what they play. Quick said he doesn’t listen to the radio anymore, as there are so many experimental bands that never get heard. They perform around the Midwest, and last November at Metalfest was one of their returns to the Stone Pony, Spooner. They performed with three other bands that night: Mors Mortis Machintio, No Loving Place and Inshadows, the latter of which was having their CD release party that night. Denied had a huge fan base attending the concert, with circle pits near the stage and all types of dancing going on, as did the other bands.

Denied, before their concert at the Stone Pony last November: Lisa Smith, manager, T.J. Peterson, bassist, Chris Quick, lead guitarist, Garett Schroeder, rhythm guitarist and Ken Macke, vocalist. Not pictured: Allen Holcomb, drummer.

We ’ r e o n t h e I n t e r n e t @ w w w. t h e - l e a d e r. n e t

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 17

Incentive program awards rebate credits for energy conservation CENTURIA – Polk-Burnett members can now apply for rebates, in the form of energy bill credits, when they purchase qualifying Energy Star® appliances, Energy Star® lightbulbs, and even entire Energy Star® homes. The rebate program was approved by the coop’s board of directors as an incentive to help members lower their energy use. Qualifying Energy Star® rebates include: $2 Compact fluorescents (limit 10) Motion & heat sensitive light controls (limit 5) $5 $15 Programmable thermostat (limit 1) Dehumidifier (limit 1)$25 Room air conditioner (limit 1) $25 Dishwasher (limit 1) $30 Refrigerator (limit 1) $50 $50 Freezer (limit 1) $50 Clothes washer (limit 1) Energy Star® home (limit 1) $250 “Co-ops have an obligation to be proactive and encourage energy conservation,” said Todd Schulte, member services manager. “We’re pleased to offer an incentive program that helps members save energy and money over time.” Rebates are available through Dec. 31, and proof of purchase is required. For forms and information, visit your local appliance dealer or call Polk-Burnett at 800421-0283. – from Polk-Burnett

Regular incandescent lightbulbs were invented by Thomas Edison, and the basic design has not changed much since 1879! These bulbs are very inefficient, converting only 10 percent of electricity into The light. 90 remaining percent of electricity is wasted as heat. Compact fluorescent bulbs use 2/3 less energy, generate 70 percent less heat last 10 and times longer than regular bulbs. Source: U.S. Department of Energy

Craftspersons and artists boost creative industry in Northwest Wisconsin MADISON – Craftspersons and artists are at the heart of a vital creative economy in Northwest Wisconsin. Although this specific creative industry is comparatively small, the potential for broader regional growth may not be. A recent University of WisconsinExtension study finds that craftspersons and artists are an undervalued element of the rural creative economy. “We are exploring a creative economy niche that some rural areas could build upon,” says Jerry Hembd, director of the Northern Center for Community and Economic Development. “The study will help us focus on ways to support the work of existing craftspersons and artists, which may be a strategy that plays to rural strengths and advantages.” Northwest Wisconsin has an abundance of natural, cultural, and other amenities said to attract and retain members of the creative class. The total economic contribution of craftspersons and artists is estimated to be over $30 million per year to the regional economy in Northwest Wisconsin, according to the study. Craftspersons and artists directly contribute over $20 million annually to the regional economy in direct revenue. Craftspersons and artists contribute an additional $4.7 million indirectly when they purchase goods and services necessary to run their businesses. Finally, over $6 million is contributed to the regional economy as a result of the household spending induced by these direct and indirect economic contributions. The total economic contribution of craftspersons and artists is therefore estimated to be over $31 million per year. Total earnings are estimated to be over $12 million annually. “Craftspersons and artists often go largely unnoticed in rural regions. They can slip through the cracks in economic analyses,” says Andrew Dane, UW-Extension community resource development educator for Barron and Chippewa counties. “They do not figure prominently in economic development strategies, nor are they seen as key economic players or contributors.” The creative economy model of economic development offers the view that the more successful a region is in attracting and retaining creative workers, the better that region’s economy will perform. However, a majority of the research on the creative economy has

focused on urban—not rural—areas. This new study sheds light on the characteristics, economic contributions, and educational needs of craftspersons and artists as core members of the rural creative economy of Northwest Wisconsin. The project was launched in 1999 when a group of artisans and producers organized Wisconsin’s Northwest Heritage Passage “to celebrate our heritage and showcase regional products that are handmade and homegrown.” They sought support from local governments and other organizations to document their contributions to regional community and economic development efforts. UW-Extension and UW-Superior funded the study, and the Northern Center for Community and Economic Development provided leadership. The center, which is jointly supported by the UW-Extension and the UW-Superior, focuses on applied research and education in northern Wisconsin. Arts Wisconsin, then known as the Wisconsin Assembly for Local Arts, was invited to join the study team of UW-Extension faculty and student assistants that guided the project. The target population of the research project was expanded to 11 counties: Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Sawyer, St. Croix and Washburn. This research demonstrates that Northwest Wisconsin has a vibrant creative industry in its craftspersons and artists. They are engaged in a broad range of creative activities. They are well-educated, experienced, and grounded in their communities. Among other findings, the study revealed that craftspersons and artists enhance the region’s attractiveness as a tourist destination. “They help ‘brand’ the region as creative and innovative,” says Hembd. “Yet the findings show that they are not fully involved with local development organizations, especially chambers of commerce. They are often overlooked when it comes to business assistance, yet they may constitute a prime investment area for community economic development. The study highlights priority areas where such assistance is needed.” To learn more about the study, visit the Northern Center for Community and Economic Development Web site at www.uwsuper.edu/ncced/recent_publications/. - from UW-Extension

Burnett Community Library Story time The preschool program continues each Wednesday from 10 to 11 a.m. Stories and activities are so much fun for the children. Bring them in when you are able; your child will be glad you did. Books on order “Wild Fire” by Nelson DeMille, “Plum Lovin” by Janet Evanovich, “Memory Keepers Daughter” by Kim Edwards, “Red Leaves” by Belva Plain, “Step on a Crack” by James Patterson, “The Case for Faith” by Lee Strobel, “Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them” by John Ortberg, “Pursuit of Happiness” by Chris Gardner and “The Cat Who Had 60 Whiskers” by Lilian Jackson Braun. CDs on order “Wild Fire” by Nelson DeMille, “Memory Keepers Daughter” by Kim Edwards, “Red Leaves” by Belva Plain, “Step on a Crack” by James Patterson. DVDs on order “The Da Vinci Code,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Dead Man’s Chest,” “Talladega Nights – The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” “An Inconvenient Truth,” “Superman Returns,” “Cars,” “Ice Age – The Meltdown,” “Gilmore Girls,” “World Trade Center” and “The Devil Wears Prada.” While going through the video collection to see what hasn’t been going out for quite awhile, I ran across a complete home system for you and your baby sitter titled, “Super Sitters” by Dr. Lee Salk. Within the kit are a video, emergency care and first aid manual, sitter’s resource guide and parent’s resource guide. This is for anyone to view but especially for the professional who may be teaching these skills to someone or to a class. Another video not going out much but perhaps is worth mentioning is the following title, “Childproof: Home Safety Checklist.” Covered in the video are such things as, how to prevent accidents around your home, garage or shed, swimming pool, automobile, plus many other tips and resources.

PAGE 18 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS “Bee” Season is Here!

STATEWIDE – CESA #11 will be hosting the 2007 Badger Spelling Bee regional competition for schools in the CESA #11 area. Each public and private school is eligible to send one student to the local competition. Home-schooled students are eligible to participate by contacting the public, private or parochial school that is in their area of residence and compete in the local competition. CESA #11 will hold two regional spelling bees on Wednesday, Feb. 21. The bee for the northern CESA schools will be held in the conference room at CESA #11 at 1 p.m. The southern CESA schools will meet at Viking Middle School in Woodville at 1 p.m.

All contestants competing at CESA #11 have won their own school’s spelling bee. The first- and secondplace finishers in each region will represent CESA #11 at the Badger State Spelling Bee Competition on Saturday, March 17, at Monona Grove High School. The winner of the state spelling bee earns a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C., to compete in the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee, May 30-31. The Wisconsin State Journal sponsors this excellent statewide program. For more information on the 2007 Badger Spelling Bee competition, contact Cindy Becker, CESA #11 Spelling Bee Coordinator 715-986-2020 or e-mail cindyb@cesa11.k12.wi.us. – submitted

Unity Community Education Yoga Wednesdays, Jan. 10 to Feb. 14 (please note changes in January dates). 6 to 6:45 p.m. Cost: $35 per session. DNR Hunter Safety Certification Tuesdays and Thursdays, Feb. 27 through March 29 (skip March 6 and 8), 7-9:30 p.m. Cost: $10, payable to DNR on the first night of class. Please call Community Ed to register.

Introduction To Palmistry Thursday, March 29, 6-7:15 p.m. Cost: $20. Metaphysical Stones 4 Thursday, March 29, 7:30-9 p.m. Cost $25. Instructor: Sandy Klepel is a GIA certified gemologist and fourth generation intuitive, specializing in stones with a shop in St. Paul, Minn.

Frederic Community Education To register call Ann Fawver at 715-327-4868, e-mail fawvera@frederic.k12.wi.us, online go to www.witc.edu “Search and Register for Courses,” or call WITC at 800-243-9482, ext. 4221. “An Inconvenient Truth” Thursday, Feb. 1, 6:30 p.m. movie and discussion free at the Frederic High School. Call Ann Fawver with question. Cross -Country Skiing Workshop WITC: #42-807-416, Monday, Feb. 5, 3 - 6 p.m. Fee: $12.70/$4 Sr. 62+. Skiing for Youth WITC: #42-807-416. Classic skiing for youth age 6-12, Monday, Feb. 5, 3:30 - 5:30 p.m. Fee: $8.35. Photography WITC #26817/ #42-203-405. Thursdays, Feb. 1 - 22, 7 - 9 p.m. Fee: $21.40/$4 Sr. 62+. Sign with Toddlers WITC #25885/ #47-533-405. Learn sign language and add fun and entertainment to your stories, songs and activities. Mondays, Feb. 5 - 19, 6 - 7:30 p.m. Free (through WITC grant). Knitting for all skill levels WITC #26803/ #42-815-408. Mondays, Feb. 5 - 26, 6 - 8 p.m. Fee: $21.40/$4 Sr. 62+. Felted Children’s Hats and Mittens WITC #42-815-408. Tuesday, Feb. 6, 6 - 9 p.m. Fee: $12.70/$4 Sr. 62+. Carving Workshop Saturday, Feb. 3, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. In the class you will have the opportunity to carve a character in Scandinavian flat-plane wood carving style. Fee: $17.05. Weight Room Training for Women WITC #27001/#42-807-408. Tuesdays, Feb. 6 - 27, 4 - 6 p.m. Fee: $21.40/$4 Sr. 62+. Weight Room Training for Students WITC #27002/#42-807-408. Thursdays, Feb. 8 - March 1, 3:30 5:30 p.m. Fee: $21.40. Babysitting Clinic WITC #26813/#47-307-495. Tuesdays, Feb. 6 - 27, 3:15 - 5 p.m. Fee: $17.50. Felted Wool Purses WITC #26804/#42-815-408. Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6 - 8:30 p.m. Fee: $12.70/$4 Sr. 62+. Materials fee to instructor - $8. PedFACTS Course Thursday, Feb. 8 and Tuesday, Feb. 13, 6 - 9 p.m. Call CE, 715-3274868. Fee: $35, optional book, $10. CPR & AED (Infant, Child & Adult) Thursday, March 8 and Tuesdays, April 24, 6 - 8 p.m. Call Community Education, 715-327-4868. Fee: $25, optional book $10.

Health Care Provider CPR Tuesdays, March 13 and April 10, 6 - 9 p.m.. Instructor: Jim Tinman. Call Community Education, 715-327-4868. Fee: $25, optional book $10. Mosaic WITC #27005/#42-815-405. Tuesdays, Feb. 20 - 27, 6 - 9 p.m. Fee: $17.05/$4 Sr. 62+. Mimi’s 2007 Creative Memories Workshop $5 RSVP with Mimi if you’d like to attend, 715-327-8122, Saturday, Feb. 10. Also this winter watch for: quilted jacket, computers: Independent projects, Mosaic stained glass suncatcher, creative stamping, preschool tumbling, sign for youth and with your preschooler, introduction to Norwegian, Prairie Fire Theatre. “Peter Pan” with Prairie Fire Theatre, mark your calendars for March 11-17. Ongoing Activities Open Ice Skating for Families At Frederic’s skating rink, located east of the elementary school. Rink and warming house open daily from 8 a.m. - 10 p.m. Families are responsible for supervising their children - rules are posted at the rink. Men’s Basketball League Frederic High School Sundays, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. $1 fee/time. Open Weight Room For public use at the high school on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, 7 - 8 a.m. and 3:30 - 5 p.m. No fee. Winter Walking Birch Street Elementary School. Mon. - Fri., 7 - 8 a.m. and 4 - 6 p.m. No fee. Sign in/out outside of the school office. Craft Club Youth meet every Thursday at the elementary school. Classes begin at 3:15 p.m. AYSO Soccer Early bird registration $40/child goes until Jan. 28. Registration dates are Jan. 29 through Feb. 9, $45/child with a $125 family cap.) Registrations received after Feb. 9 will be subject to a $15 late fee. Register at Luck School - Monday, Jan. 29, 6:30 - 8 p.m.; Frederic School - Thursday, Feb. 1, 6:30 - 8 p.m.; Unity School, Tuesday Feb. 6, 6:30 - 8 p.m. Volunteers needed - call 646-2150, 472-4895 or 472-4062. Driver’s Education Classroom course for students 15 years and older with Safe Start Driving School. Monday - Thursday, Feb. 26 through March 22, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, 6 - 8 p.m., Wednesday, 5 - 7 p.m. Fee: $75.

Osceola Community Education New classes are posted for winter/spring. For complete details on classes and to print registration forms, please visit the Osceola School District Web site at www.osceola.k12.wi.us and click on the Community Education link. You may also contact Lala Graf – Community Education Director at 715-294-2127 Ext. 407 or by e-mail at ComEd@osceola.k12.wi.us. Please remember to preregister as classes are run by user participation and do get cancelled due to low enrollment. Open Computer Lab – Tuesdays and Thursdays through May 24, OHS 3:30-5:30 p.m., on school days. Tae Kwon Do – Wednesdays through spring, OES, 7-7:45 p.m., $25/month. Yoga – Tuesdays, Jan. 16-Feb. 20, OIS, 6:30-7:15 p.m. Cost $36. Photo Organizing – Mondays, Jan. 29 – Feb. 12, OHS, 6-9 p.m. Cost $30. How to Buy a Digital Camera – Tuesday, Feb. 6, OIS, 6:30-9 p.m., $12.70/Sr. $4 WITC Registration required. Class #25877, Course #42-103-460. Spanish: Beginner Conversation – Wednesday, Feb. 7 - March 7, OHS, 6 - 8 p.m. Cost $25.75/Sr. $4 WITC Registration required. Class #25879 Course #42-802-405. Christmas 6x6 Brag Book Scrapbook – Monday, Feb. 12, OIS, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Cost $5, supplies $40. Parent Ed. – Behavior Management – Monday, Feb. 12, OHS, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Cost $11. How to Use a Digital Camera - Feb 13-Feb 27 (T) OIS 6:30-9 p.m., Cost $21.40/Sr $4 WITC Registration required. Class # 25878 Course # 42-103-460 Graduation Scrap Booking – Mondays and Thursdays, Feb. 26 March 5, OHS, 6 - 9 p.m. Cost $30. Adult Dog Obedience – Tuesdays, Feb. 27 - April 3, OHS, 7 - 8:30 p.m., (1st night) 7-7:30 p.m. (other nights). Cost $45.

Adult Social Dancing for Beginners – Fridays, March 2 – 30, OHS, 7-8 p.m. Cost $50/couple. Jewelry Making – Tuesday, March 6, OHS, 7 – 8 p.m. Cost $5, supplies $10. Design Your Own Pond and Waterfall – Tuesdays, March 6, OHS, 7 – 9 p.m. Cost $5. Puppy Manners – Tuesdays, March 6 - 27, OHS, 7:30-9 p.m., (1st night), 7:30-8 p.m. (other nights). Cost $35. All-occasion Card Stamp-a-Stack – Monday, March 12, OIS, 6:308:30 p.m. Cost $5, supplies $20. Microphone Use-Make Yourself Heard - Monday, March 12 and 19, OHS, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Cost $10. Parent Ed. – Overindulgence – Monday, March 19, OHS, 6:307:30 p.m. Cost $11. Women’s Dance – Wednesdays, April 3 - 25, OHS, 6-7 p.m. Cost $25. Baby 6x6 Scrapbook – Monday, April 16, OIS, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Cost $5, supplies $40. Brain Blitz for Seniors – Tuesday, April 17, OIS, 9:30-11 a.m. Cost $5. One-Stroke Painting – Tuesdays, April 17 - May 1, OHS, 7-9 p.m. Cost $30, supplies $6. Parent Ed. – Sleep – Monday, April 23, OHS, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Cost $11. All Occasion Card Stamp-a-Stack – Monday, May 7, OIS, 6:308:30 p.m. Cost $5, supplies $20. Childresn Classes 7-12 grade dance – Tuesdays and Thursdays, Jan. 9-Feb. 13 and Feb. 20-March 29. Music 101 – Monday – Thursdays through spring, OMS. Call for open time slots. DNR Boater Safety – Monday and Wednesdays, June 4-6, OHS, 6 - 9 p.m. Cost $10, payable to DNR.

Ongoing Events

AA Meetings: United Methodist Church, Danbury, 1 block north of Main Street on 1st Street. Thursdays, noon. AA and Al-Anon Meetings: Every Monday night at Frederic Pilgrim Lutheran Church basement at 7 p.m. Amateur (Ham) Radio, holds its monthly breakfast the second Saturday of every month, 8 a.m. at the Fox Den in Balsam Lake with a meeting at approx. 9 a.m. at the Polk County Government Center. Amery - Truckload of food provided each month by Polk County Christians in Action on the second and fifth Saturdays at the Congregational Church in Amery at 201 Harriman Ave. N, 268-7390. Donation of $10 per family requested. Persons will receive fresh fruits, vegetables, breads, and other food as available. Amery - DivorceCare divorce recovery seminar meets Monday at 7 p.m., for 13 weeks, at Apple River Community Church, located on Hwy. 8. Call Bruce Tanner for information at 715-268-8360 or Gary Alexander at 715-268-2724. Balsam Lake Community Club meets the fourth Tuesday of every month, 7 p.m., at Balsam Lake Village Hall. Boy Scout Troop #128 is holding an ongoing aluminum can collection fundraiser. Contributions can be dropped off at the trailer parked at Great Northern Outdoors in Frederic. Burnett County Adult Day Care meets every Tuesday at Birchwood Manor in Siren from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. and every Thursday at Cedarwood Manor in Webster from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Burnett County Citizen Patrol, meets the 4th Thursday of the month, 7 p.m., government center. Burnett Community Library Adult Craft Club, meets every Thursday, 10 a.m. - noon at the library in Webster. Caregivers Support Group meets every third Wednesday at Capeside Cove, 4 p.m. 500 Cards at Cushing Community Center, every Wednesday at 1 p.m. Dresser - Tot-Time, an hour of Bible stories, music, crafts and a snack, is held at the first and third Tuesdays, Sept. through May, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Peace Lutheran Church. Please contact the church office to register at 755-2515. Family Child Care Professionals Network, meets the third Thursday of each month, 7 p.m. Call 715-483-1482 for info. Family child care providers welcome! Frederic American Legion Post & Unit #249, meets the third Monday of every month at the Legion Hall, 7:30 p.m., unless otherwise announced. Frederic Booster Club meets the first Sunday each month at 6 p.m. in the high school. Frederic Historical Society to meet the fourth Thursday of every month at the Golden Oaks Apartments, 6:30 p.m. Frederic Senior Center welcomes everyone. Hours are 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily except Sundays. Mondays, Spades played at 1:30 p.m., Wednesdays Pokeno played at 1:30 p.m., Thursdays 500 cards played at 6:30 p.m. Bingo at 1:30 p.m. and pool or other card games during the afternoon. Business meeting the first Friday of each month. Frederic TOPS meets 5:30 p.m. on Wednesdays at Comforts of Home community room, contact Nancy 715-327-8063 or tops.org. Frederic Welcome Wagon, new residents who’d like community information, and businesses and organizations who’d like to offer coupons, discounts and promotions to new residents are invited to call 715-327-8972 or 715-327-4271. Gamblers Anonymous, every Monday, 5 p.m., New Beginnings Alano Club, 7707 Main Street, Siren, 715-349-2588. Head Injury Support Group to meet every second Sunday at the Siren Covenant Church, 7686 Lofty Pines Drive, 1 - 2:30 p.m. Caregivers are welcome. For further information please call Jerry or Karen at 715-349-8985. Humane Society of Burnett County meets the fourth Tuesday of every month, 6 p.m. at the Humane Society on Midtown Rd., Siren. We are collecting used printer ink cartridges and used digital cell phones. Call 715-866-4096. Loaves & Fishes Food Pantry, open Tuesday & Thursday, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 400 Main St. So., Luck, go to back door. Luck Senior Center, open Tuesdays 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Open Wednesday through Fridays, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m., for coffee and fellowship. Come in and play pool, cards or work on a jigsaw puzzle. Everyone welcome. Milltown Senior Center, open Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. 500 cards every Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. Obesity Surgery Support Group of the River Valley, meets every 2nd Monday of each month, 5:30-7 p.m. at Adventures Restaurant, Hwy. 35, North Osceola. For more info call 715755-3474 or Jepsen@centurytel.net. Osceola - DivorceCare divorce recovery seminar and support group meets at the First Baptist Church each Monday, 7 p.m. Sessions for adults and children. The church is located at 722 Seminole Avenue (Hwy. M). For information call 715-2944222 or 651-214-5251 after 5 p.m. St. Croix Valley Senior Center, open Monday - Friday, 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Regular meetings are the 3rd Thursday of every month, 11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. blood pressure checks; 12:30 potluck, followed by business meeting and entertainment. 500 cards and dominoes, and exercises by YMCA every Tuesday and Thursday, 10 a.m. Craft Making 1st, 2nd & 4th Thursdays at 11 a.m. and 500 cards at 6:30 p.m. Siren Alano Club: Tuesday noon, women’s group; Wednesday, 7 p.m. AA; Thursday, 7 p.m., NA; Sunday, 9 a.m., AA; Sunday, 7 p.m. NA; First Saturday of the month, open meeting, 5:30 potluck, 7 p.m. speaker and pin night. The Indianhead Barbershop Chorus practices every Monday at 7:30 p.m. in the lower level of the old courthouse in Balsam Lake, CTH I and Hwy. 46. Call 715-483-9202, 715-4635202 or 715-327-8091. Tot-Time, 9:30-10:30 a.m., 1st & 3rd Tuesdays, Sept. through May at Peace Lutheran. Bible stories, music crafts & snack. Community is welcome, please contact the church office to register at 715-755-2515. Webster Area Chamber of Commerce meets the first Tuesday of every month at 9 a.m. at the Webster chamber office. Webster Tops, Mondays, 9:30 a.m. at First Baptist Church. Quakers. Northern Pines Friends Worship Group, 11 a.m. Every other Saturday, 6020 Peterson Rd., Webster, 866-8802 or 866-7798.

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 19

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS Grantsburg Community Education

Trips Feb. 9 and 10 – Auditions for Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre’s original musical production of Tom Sawyer will be held on Mon., Feb. 5, at 3:45 p.m. at the Grantsburg High School auditorium. A $5 audition fee will be charged. Auditions are open to anyone age 7 through 100. Performances are scheduled for Fri., Feb. 9 at 7 p.m. and Sat., Feb. 10 at 2 p.m. at the Grantsburg High School Auditorium. For more info call Cindi Throngard at 715-463-5165 ext. 160. February 24 - The Lipizzan Stallions at the Target Center in Minneapolis, Minn. Leave Grantsburg at 11:30 a.m., show at 2 p.m. Cost for show and coach is $48. March 8 - Mystery Trip/Lunch – This unique experience is cheap, funny and good, so will fill up fast. Bring a friend or two. Thursdays, March 8. Cost: $30. Leave Grantsburg 10:15 a.m. For more info call Cindy at 715463-5165 ext. 160. March 21 - April 1 - Hurricane Katrina Relief Trip- $260 (includes coach, meals and lodging). Travel with a church from Stacy, Minn., down to the New Orleans area to help some families who have fallen through the cracks. This is a once-in-alifetime chance to make a difference in someone’s life. Guaranteed to make a difference in your life too! March 28: Mall of America. Travel with us to enjoy Easter fun at the Mall of America and the spring shopping. We will spend the day. We will drop any interested at IKEA as well. Cost: $20. Leave Grantsburg at 8 a.m. and return by 6 p.m. Saturday, March 31: “Beyond the Cross” 2000 years ago, one man altered the course of history. Join in for an incredible

Easter experience. This inspiring musical production is hosted by Lowell Lundstrom. Journey back in time when Jesus transformed the lives of ordinary people, one person at a time. Leave Grantsburg: 9:30 a.m. Includes coach, meal, and show. Lunch will be eaten on the way down. April 20 – Gaither Give it Away Tour Target Center - $70. Firstclass seats, a meal and coach are included. Leave Grantsburg at 2:30 p.m. and eat on the way at a Country Buffet, and then go to Target Center for a 7 p.m. show. Don’t wait. This event is sure to sell quickly. June 27 – Munsinger/Clemens Rose Gardens and Shopping – Leave Grantsburg at 8 a.m. Join in as we visit this special garden and rose garden in St. Cloud, Minn. A must-see for anyone in the area, WCCO says. Spend the rest of the day shopping in the St. Cloud Mall. Lunch is on your own. Cost: $35. July 14 – Midwest Scrapbookers Convention Join in as we travel to the Rivercentre in St. Paul for this scrapbookers extravaganza. Booths, ideas, projects, and how-tos galore as you spend the day taking in all that you can. Lunch is on your own. Leave Grantsburg at 8 a.m. and return by 6 p.m. Cost: $15 (for coach bus) Show and meal on own. Aug. 27 – Minnesota State Fair – Cost: $15 for coach. Fair entry on own. Leave Grantsburg at 7 a.m. and return by 6 p.m. Have a ball at the great Minnesota get-together. Make it a family event. Children are welcome. November 2007 – Christmas in Sweden Our special tour guide, Suzy Retzer, leads a visit to Stockholm as she is dressed

in her Christmas finery. This 12day visit will be an informal, intimate visit to a beautiful European city. Visit many of the top tourist attractions as well as many unique activities . For a brochure, give Cindi a call. Approximate cost: $2,500 (actual cost not available at this time). Spring Community Education Classes January INDOOR WALKING: The Grantsburg High School is open daily for your winter walking from 6:30 to 7:30 a.m. and again after the school day, starting at 4 p.m. In the morning, please enter at the district office entrance. Please wear rubber soled shoes. Any questions, call Cindi at 715-463-5165 ext. 160. ADULT VOLLEYBALL: Every Wednesday night. Two courts used with a relaxed group and a more competitive one. Everyone is welcome! Call Cindi at 715-463-5165 ext. 160 for more info. PRESCHOOL PLAYTIME: Join us, Pete and Deb Johnson, for our 10th-annual open gym for preschoolers. All children must be accompanied by an adult who remains with them the entire time (infants welcome also). There will be play equipment available, but no structured activities. You may bring outdoor-type and riding toys if they are clean. This is a good opportunity for parents to interact while their youngsters run around and have fun with others – a good outing during the long winter months. Mondays – Jan., Feb. and March, 6 to 7:30 p.m. Fee: $5 season pass or $1 for each session. Grantsburg Elementary.

CREATIVE WRITING (ITV Class): This creative writing course will explore writing genres in a writer’s workshop setting. Participants will read, analyze and write in genres such as fiction, nonfiction and poetry. These genres will be used to work on building skills in developing character, setting, conflict, plot and voice. Students will be guided through the states of the writing process and will build a variety of editing and revision skills. A strong emphasis will be placed on learning how to develop imagery in your writing. Other specific skills include: writing dialogue, developing conflict, developing humor in writing, building vocabulary, writing concisely and avoiding the passive voice. Materials: paper, writing utensils, 3-ring binder. Computer access is helpful but not necessary. Eight Wednesday sessions, 6 to 8 p.m., beginning Jan. 24. Cost: $38.80; seniors - $4. FINANCIAL WORKSHOP: Learn how to increase investment income while reducing taxes on those investments. Learn about the stock market as well as other forms of ownership and loanership investments. Five Thursday sessions beginning Jan. 29, 6 to 8 p.m. in the Grantsburg High School art room, #126. Cost: $12 materials included. Instructor: Michael Langevin. WATERCOLOR PAINTING: Learn how to use watercolors from the best. Open to anyone interested in watercolor painting. Five Monday sessions beginning Jan. 29, 6 to 8 p.m., Grantsburg High School art room, #126. Cost: $20 plus materials. Instructor: Bruce Teigen.

PILATES: This class consists of mat exercises that strengthen the core – the abdominals and back muscles. Participants must bring their own mat and light pair of free weights. Six Tuesday sessions beginning Jan. 30, 6 to 7 p.m., Grantsburg Elementary School gym. Cost: $30. Instructor: Natalie Doornink, certified in personal training and pilates. February PRESCHOOL SIGN LANGUAGE (ITV Class): Learn to sign with toddlers and preschoolers. Signing with children can improve memory, vocabulary, reading skills later in life. Three Monday sessions, beginning Feb. 5, 6 – 7:30 p.m., Grantsburg High School ITV Room. Cost: $20. HOW TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE (ITV Class): This class is designed to help you with your education funding concerns and needs. One Thursday session, Feb. 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Cost: $8. Grantsburg High School ITV Room. SCRAPBOOKING DAY: What a fun and relaxing day to work on your pictures or albums. Bring your lunch and a treat to share and we will provide supper. Come when you can and stary as long as you like. Supplies will be available to for purchase. Door prizes too! One session, Sat., Feb. 10, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Cost: $12. Grantsburg High School library. March MONEY MANAGEMENT – MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR FUTURE (ITV Class): This class focuses on the basics of personal money management. Specifically, we will cover savings and investing, budgeting, insurance programs and other

issues that will help you plan for your financial futures. One session, Thursday, March 1, 7 – 8:30 p.m. Cost: $8. Grantsburg High School ITV Room. (Class repeated on March 29). JOURNALING: Come and learn more about the art of journaling. Bring a notebook to journal in and a pen. Four Tuesday sessions beginning March 6, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Cost: $10. Instructor: Mandi Amundson. Grantsburg High School. STAINED GLASS: Create stained glass light catchers, windows, boxes or panels. Beginning techniques of cutting, breaking, grinding, foiling and soldering will be covered. Three Monday sessions, 6 to 8 p.m., beginning March 5. Cost: $20. Instructor: Bruce Teigen. Grantsburg High School Art Room. INTRODUCTION TO POWERPOINT: This course will provide you with the skills to create effective presentations with PowerPoint 2003. Six Tuesday sessions, 5 – 6:30 p.m., beginning March 6. Cost: $23. Instructor: Greg Stager. Grantsburg High School, Room 140. BABYSITTING CLASS: Topics include safety, general care of infants, toddlers and school-age children. This class is for grades 5-6 only. Class limit of 20. Two sessions, Tuesday and Thursday, March 6 and 8, 3:30 to 5 p.m. Cost: $5. Instructor: Debi Fleishauer. GMS Library. HOW TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE (ITV Class): This class is designed to help you with your education funding concerns and needs. One Thursday session, March 8, 7 to 8:30 p.m. Cost: $8. Grantsburg High School ITV Room.

Siren-Webster Community Education Basic Nursing Assistant, WITC # 30-543-300, ID # 25366. 17 weeks, Monday – Friday, Jan. 22 to May 18, 2:35 – 3:25 p.m., at the Webster High School. Fee: $304.95. Mail registration form to WITC, or call

WITC at 1-800-243-9482, ext. 4221, or call Comm. Ed. office at 715-349-7070. Pre-Ballet & Tap Dance For Kids (Quarter 3). Eight Tuesdays, Jan. 23 to March 13, 4:45 – 5:30 p.m., at the Siren High

School. Fee: $45. Preregistration required. Call Comm. Ed. Office at 715-349-7070. First Responder Refresher, WITC # 47-531-446, ID # 26939. Eight nights, Tuesdays and Wednesday, Jan. 30 to Feb.

21, at the Webster High School, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Fee: $59.40/$7.20. Preregistration required. Call WITC at 1-800243-9482, ext. 4221, or mail registration form to WITC.

Siren H.S. Gym: Mondays, 7:30-9 p.m. Siren VB begins Monday, Oct. 16; Webster H.S. Gym: Wednesdays from 7-9 p.m. Webster VB begins Wednesday, Oct. 18.

Winter Hall Walking for Adults. Siren and Webster High Schools: Weekdays 7-8 a.m. Please check in with office staff in each building to get a school pass to wear while you walk in the building.

Luck Community Education To register for classes, call Barb Kass at 715-472-2152, ext. 103, or WITC at 1-800-243-9482, ext. 4221 or visit the WITC Web site at http://www.witc.edu, click Adult Evening classes, Registration for Spring, 2007, locate the class and register online. Infant/Child Massage Tuesdays, Jan. 30-Feb. 6 and 13, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Class ID #27000, Cat. #42-537-410. Fee: $12.70/$4 seniors 62+. Instructor: Susan Ames Lillie. Long Bows with Tony Jenson Thursday, Feb. 1 to March 29, 6-9 p.m. Cat. #60-409-601, Class ID TBA. Fee: $64.90. Computers: MS Excel Thursdays, Feb. 1, 8, 15 and 22, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Cat. #47-103-401.

Class ID #27024. Fee: $21.40/$4 for seniors 62 +. Instructor: Amy Aikin. Dare to Repair! Home Repair for Women: Dry Wall and Plumbing Saturdays, Feb. 3 and 10; 9 a.m.-noon in the high school shop. Class ID# 27025, Cat. #42-410-473. Fee: $17.05/$4 seniors 62+. Insturctor: Chris Mailand Stained Glass: Snowflake Monday, Feb. 12, 6 – 9 p.m. Fee: $18 with supply fee $9 per flake, plating is an additional $5 or so. Insturctor: Peg Kuhl. Spring Floral Watercolor with Gloria Adrian Mondays, March 5 – April 2 (no class March 19), 6:30 – 9 p.m. Class ID # 27006, Cat. # 42-815-408. Fee

$25.75/$4 seniors 62+. Social Dance with Rosio Carlson March 6 – 27, 7 – 8 p.m. Cost: $40 per couple. Armchair Traveler: A Taste of Guatemala Thursdays, March 15, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Fee: $5. Please preregister 472-2152, Ext. 103. Ongoing classes: Chess Club Wednesdays, 3:30 – 5 p.m., in room 207. For information contact Lydia at rennicke@centurytel.net. Judo Club Fridays, 6:30 p.m. in the wrestling room. For information contact Lydia at rennicke@centurytel.net.

Guitar Riffs at the Riff Factory Wednesdays, 7-8 p.m. New classes start monthly! Fee: $45. Dust off that guitar and learn some tunes at the Riff Factory in Luck. Luck Community Ed is partnering with the Riff Factory to offer group guitar lessons to new students at a special introductory rate. All materials supplied, bring your own guitar. To register, call Barb Kass. Reader’s group Monday, Jan. 29, “The Historian” by Kostova Feb. 12: “Cry the Beloved Country: March 19: “Saving Fish from Drowning” by Amy Tan April 23: “My Dog Tulip” by J.R. Ackerley and Elizabeth Marshall

Readers meet at 6:30 p.m. in the Luck elementary media center. New members are always welcome to this lively and informal discussion group. Please use the north entrance to the school. For other dates and book titles, people with e-mail addresses may send an e-mail to Sue Mattson at smattson@lakeland.ws, or call the Community Education Office. Just a glimpse of what’s coming up: Photoshop (call for dates) Leaded, plated stained-glass basket, March 5. Knitting: Felted Petal Hat with Audrey Anderson, March 5.

The Hows and Whys of Solar Energy, March 12. Garden Critters Stained Glass, April 2. Scroll Saw for Women, April. Hanging Baskets, April 24. Responsible Beverage Service, May 14. Please watch for the February Luck School Newsletter and the Inter-County Leader for details Mark your calendar for Feb. 8 Community Education Scholarship Lasagna Dinner and Quilt Raffle (Luck –Frederic Doubleheader BB games).

St. Croix Falls Community Education Open adult volleyball league begins Monday, Jan. 15, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the Valley Christian School. Adults, 18 and over. Cost is $3 per person or $5 per couple. Braid a chair pad. Classes held at In the Wool at St. Croix Falls. $40 for wool/instructions and braiding supplies for an additional $26.25. Call 715-4831433 to register. Beginning rug hooking classes. Classes held at In the Wool at St. Croix Falls. Class fee $60 and includes instruction, pattern

and wool to complete project. Hook and hoop are extra. Call 715-483-1433 to register. Color It Mine Ceramics classes. Be Mine – Feb. 8, 3:30 – 5 p.m. Grades 1 – 6. Cost $10. Hoppin’ Good Time – March 8, 3:30 – 5 p.m., grades 1 – 6. Cost: $13. Hoppin’ Good Time 2 – March 29, 3:30 – 5 p.m., grades 1-6. Cost $13. Adults Wet Green Ware, Feb. 15 for creating, Feb. 22 for glazing, 6 p.m. until done. Cost: $27. Classes held at Simpler Times Ceramics, St. Croix Falls.

Open Basketball Gym. Every Wednesday from 7:30 – 9 p.m. at the St. Croix Falls High School, $1.50 per week. TaeKwonDo. Classes will be held at the St. Croix Falls High School, every Tuesday. Grasshoppers I, 3:30-4:15 p.m., $20, beginners (white belts); Grasshoppers II, 4:30 – 5:15 p.m., $20, older white belts and orange belts; Grasshoppers III, 5:15 – 6:15 p.m., $20, yellow belts and up; Ages 16 – 130, 6:30 – 7:30 p.m., $20, adults.

Abstract Landscapes. Wednesday, March 7, 6:30 – 9 p.m. for 4 sessions. Cost: $50 per student. Hip-Hop, Jazz, Funk – Not too late to get started! First – Third grade, 3:30 – 4:15 p.m.; 4th – 6th grade 4:30 – 5:30 p.m., 7th & 8th grade 6 – 7 p.m., HS – adult, 7 – 8 p.m. at the St. Croix Falls Elementary School. St. Croix Valley Orchestra. Practices at the St. Croix Falls High School band room. Rehearsals 7 – 9 p.m. Mondays.

Latchkey the place to be! Kindergarten through sixth grade. Students attending Dresser Elementary may ride the bus to the St. Croix Falls. Open 3:15 – 6 p.m. Monday through Friday on regular school days for children in the St. Croix Falls School District. Cost is $4 per day, per first child and $3.50 per day for second child, $3 per day for every child thereafter per day. Services are available on early-release days and some in-service days. If the child is not picked up by 6 p.m.

there will be a $2.50 penalty for each five minutes after that time for added expenses. Please call the elementary office at 715483-9823, ext. 211. Supervised Weight Room at the St. Croix Falls High School, 6:45 – 7:45 a.m. Monday – Friday; 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. Monday – Thursdays on student school days. Please call to preregister 715-483-9823, ext. 224.

We’re on the Internet @ www.the-leader.net

PAGE 20 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

EDUCATION VIBRATIONS

American families hosting for the academic year 2007-2008 TURTLE LAKE — Families across the nation expanded their horizons this year, by opening up their hearts and homes to teenage students from foreign countries. Teenagers from more than 20 different countries arrived in the United States last August and this January to live with families for nine or five months, and attend local high schools. By opening up their homes, host families have given the communities an opportunity to discover and interact with other cultures from around the world. It has also given the communities that were involved a glimpse at a more global perspective. By opening our eyes to what others in the world believe, it just may be possible to find some answers to the question of what it will take to make this planet safe for all. The following Wisconsin host families opened their homes and took on the responsibility of an exchange student this (2006-2007) academic school year: Lori and Toni Fagnan, New Richmond, hosting Florian Hildebrandt (Germany); Brent and Lori Hostrup, Luck, hosted Jil Goeres (Germany); Gary and Lynn Berghuis/Joan Jacobs, Spooner, hosted

Marta Morento (Spain), Jim and Kathy Koser, Almena, hosted Verena Steinbrenner (Germany); Mike and Lori Green, Chetek, hosted Sara Bronco (Brazil), Georgenia O’Connell, Turtle Lake, hosted Therese Gerlach (Germany), Ronnie and Bern Petersen, Luck, hosted Gabriela Ferreira (Brazil), Scott and Lisa Roberts, Luck, hosted Verena Brasil (Brazil), Mary and Jim Ricci, Cumberland, hosted Julian Zetti (Germany), Brent and Denise Tabor, Prairie Farm, hosted Julia Cavieres (Chile); Daria Hart, Shell Lake, hosted Krzysztof Sikora (Poland) and Christian Fischer (Germany). If you are interested in taking part in this program, or perhaps hosting a student for either one or two semesters for the upcoming (2007-2008) year, you may contact Steve Eichman at 88 South Horseshoe Lake Drive Turtle Lake, WI 54889 or call 715-986-4533 or e-mail at: seichman@turtlelake.k12.wi.us. Many of the 2007-2008 profiles have already arrived, and homes are needed for these students. Now is the time to act if you have any interest. — from AYA

AYSO Soccer registration under way

POLK COUNTY - It is soccer time again! AYSO Soccer is gearing up for another great year. You can register online at soccer.org or at any of our three school locations. Early-bird registration goes until Jan. 28. School registration dates are as follows: Luck School – Jan. 29, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Frederic School – Feb. 1, 6:30 – 8 p.m. Unity School – Feb. 6, 6:30 – 8 p.m.

Registrations received after Feb. 9, will be subject to a late fee. You can register at any one of the schools no matter what school your child goes to. Volunteer are needed! No experience is necessary. Training will be provided. If you are interested in volunteering or have any questions please call: Mike 715-472-4895, Brenda 715-472-4062 or Becky 715-646-2150. – submitted

Children learn about car seat safety

Beecroft named to dean’s list APPLETON – William Beecroft, of rural Frederic, has been named to the dean’s list at Fox Valley Technical College for the first quarter of the 2006-07 school year. To qualify, students must be enrolled in an associate degree or

technical diploma program and have completed 12 or more credits with a grade-point average of 3.5 or higher. – submitted

w w w . t h e - l e a d e r. n e t

Kathy and Janet, from St. Croix Tribal Health, brought a fun way to show the ICAA Mina Copeland Head Start children car seat safety. They used an egg demonstration to help the children understand how important it is to sit in their car seats and stay buckled up. For more information on the ICAA Mina Copeland Head Start call 715-866-4867 or the St. Croix Tribal Head Start at 715-349-2195. – Photo submitted

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 21

PAGE 22 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

Roger Sjolander Roger Sjolander, age 69, of Grantsburg, died Jan. 18, 2007, at his home in rural Grantsburg. Roger was born on June 18, 1937, in Grantsburg, to Carl and Dorothy Sjolander. He is survived by his children Jeff Sjolander and Vicki (Jeff) Sjolander Nelson; grandchildren Tom, Tina and Justin Johnson and William Sjolander; greatgranddaughter Halley Pomeroy; brother Ardell Sjolander and sister Cheri (Manford) Peterson. Funeral services will be held on Friday, Jan. 26, 11 a.m., at Bethany Lutheran Church, with visitation Thursday, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Edling Funeral Home in Grantsburg. Interment will be held at Ansgarius Cemetery. The Edling Funeral Home, Grantsburg, was entrusted with arrangements.

EDLING FUNERAL HOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

EDLING TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME 387 State Rd. 70 Grantsburg, WI (715) 463-2994

OBITUARIES

Adam Eugene Peterson

Steven Daniel Clover

Adam Eugene Peterson, 25, of Athens, formerly of Balsam Lake, died unexpectedly on Jan. 21, 2007, at St. Josephâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Hospital in Marshfield. Adam was born April 5, 1981, to Donald and Debra (Ince) Peterson in St. Croix Falls. He was baptized at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Osceola. He attended Unity High School, where he excelled academically and athletically. In 1999, Adam graduated with honors from Unity High School and went on to attend UW-Superior, where he obtained a degree in secondary education in 2004. Adam began his teaching career at Grantsburg High School. In the fall of 2005, Adam accepted a position teaching middle school science in Athens, where he quickly became involved in the athletic department. Adam was an assistant coach for the high school baseball and football teams, and was also the coach for the middle school football team. In the fall of 2006, he proudly accepted a position as the varsity boys basketball coach. Adam truly loved being a teacher and a coach, and was extremely proud of his students and athletes. In addition to loving sports, Adam was an avid fisherman and hunter who enjoyed spending time with his friends and family. Adam is survived by his parents; sisters Errin Peterson (Joe Schleusner) and Allison Peterson; maternal grandparents, Betty and Eugene Ince; paternal grandmother, Edith Peterson; special friend Becky Balz of Athens; and many aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by paternal grandfather, Alfred Peterson and cousin Zachary Ward. A visitation will be held at the Kolstad-Rowe Funeral Home in Centuria, on Wednesday, Jan. 24 from 4-8 p.m. Services will be held at Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church in Balsam Lake on Thursday, Jan. 25, with Father Tom Thompson officiating. An additional visitation will be held at 10 a.m., prior to the service at 11 a.m. Interment to be held at Georgetown Township Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s uncles Bryan Ince, Darryl Ince, Michael Ince, Marty Ince, Marc Ince and David Peterson. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Schleusner, Joe Willcox and Jim Dobbs. Kolstad-Rowe Funderal Home of Centuria was entrusted with arrangements.

Steven Daniel Clover, age 65, of Grantsburg, died on Jan. 19, 2007, after a two-year struggle with multiple health problems. Steve was born on March 6, 1941, to Daniel and Mary Clover, in Sterling Township. Later the family moved to Rush City, Minn., where Steve attended school. As a young adult, he and his family moved back to Grantsburg. Steve was in the Army and served in the Vietnam War. Steve was self-employed for many years as an auto mechanic. For 25 years, he served the Grantsburg School District as a school bus contractor, driver and bus mechanic. Steve was a very dedicated bus driver, who believed it was important to develop a relationship with the students who rode on his bus route. He had high work ethics with putting top priority in doing an excellent job at whatever he was working on. Steve especially enjoyed hunting and fishing. His passion was fishing on the St. Croix River with great expectations of catching an even bigger musky on each fishing trip. He was known for many years for playing his guitar and singing. Most recently, he was in the band Play N Country, with whom he enjoyed performing with at local community events. Steve is preceded in death by his parents and brother Carl. He is survived by his wife of 31 years, Liela; daughters Neci Johnson of Bartelsville, Okla., Deana (Pat)) Fulweiler of Pine City, Minn., Becky (Karl) Anderson of Grantsburg; son Rocky Haraldson of New Glarus; brother David (Minnie) Clover of Squaw Valley, Calif.; 13 grandchildren; as well as nieces, nephews and many other relatives and friends. Funeral services, with military honors, will be at Grace Baptist Church on Jan. 24, at 1 p.m. Pastor Dan Slaikeu and Ken Hyatt will be officiating. The Edling Funeral Home, Grantsburg, was entrusted with arrangements.

Alpha E. Dahle Alpha E. Dahle, longtime Grantsburg resident, died peacefully at age 96, on Jan. 15, 2007, at the Burnett Medical Continuing Care Center in Grantsburg. Alpha was born on July 10, 1910. She attended Branstad Grade School and graduated from Grantsburg High School. She received her teaching degree at Superior State College and taught for 42 years in Siren and Grantsburg. Alpha loved teaching and attending high school sporting events. She was a faithful fan of the Grantsburg Pirates throughout her many years, and attended as many games as she could, both home and away, until her health began to fail. Alpha lived on the Dahle farm her entire life, until her health declined this past December. Her flower garden and lawn were a top priority, and she made certain it always looked nice. Alpha was an active member of the Bethany Lutheran Church until her death. Her devotion and service to Bethany were very important to her and she felt an empty feeling if unable to attend Sunday services. Alpha was preceded in death by her parents, the Rev. and Mrs. J.J. Dahle; brothers Martin, David and Othneal; sisters Olyve, Laurene, Martha, Audrey and Marie. She is survived by nephews Bill (Pam) Brandes and Gerald (Deanna) Dahle; grandnieces Pam Dahle and Debra Dahle Janis. Funeral services were held on Jan. 19, at Bethany Lutheran Church of Grantsburg. Interment followed at Riverside Cemetery in Grantsburg. The Edling Funeral Home, Grantsburg, was entrusted with arrangements.

EDLING FUNERAL HOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

EDLING TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME 387 State Rd. 70 Grantsburg, WI (715) 463-2994

EDLING FUNERAL HOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

EDLING TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME 387 State Rd. 70 Grantsburg, WI (715) 463-2994

Barbara Lee Creuzer Barbara Lee Creuzer, 68, of St. Croix Falls, passed away at Lakeview Hospital in Stillwater, Minn., on Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007. Barbara was born on July 17, 1938, in St. Croix Falls, daughter of Russel and Mildred (Lee) Jensen. Barb graduated in 1957 from St. Croix Falls High School. On June 11, 1959, she was married to Charles Frederic Creuzer of Luck. They had two sons, Lee and Neal. They lived on a farm in Luck, and raised registered polled Hereford cattle. Barb had a lifelong love of horses and riding. She loved all animals, especially her dogs, and pampered them all. She enjoyed fishing, watching wildlife and hiking the River Road and surrounding area. Barb was much appreciated by her friends and family for her humor and great cooking. Barb enjoyed old cars, and had a clear understanding of how they worked and was quick to troubleshoot and offer repair suggestions. She was preceded in death by her parents and former husband, Charles (Rita) Creuzer. She is survived by her sons Lee (Nicole) of Hoover, Ala., and Neal of Balsam Lake; brother Charles (Carol) Jensen of St. Croix Falls and numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, great-nephews and nieces and one great-great niece. Funeral services were held Jan. 23, at the Methodist Church in St. Croix Falls, with Pastor Mark Peacock officiating. Interment was held at St. Croix Falls Cemetery. The Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls, was entrusted with arrangements.

EDLING FUNERAL HOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

EDLING TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME 387 State Rd. 70 Grantsburg, WI (715) 463-2994

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 23

Beatrice Mae (Halstead) Olson Beatrice Mae (Halstead) Olson, Amery, died Jan. 13, 2007, at Golden Age Manor, Amery, where she has resided since 2004. She was 79 years old. She was born Nov. 9, 1927, in Trade Lake Township to Roy and Ella Halstead. She was baptized at Immanuel Lutheran Parsonage in Frederic on Dec. 26, 1931, and confirmed in the Christian faith at Mission Covenant Church of Wood Lake, Grantsburg, on Dec. 17, 1939. She graduated from Grantsburg High School in 1945. After high school, Bea was employed at the Burnett County Courthouse in the register of deeds office. She was united in marriage to Wesley Olson of Grantsburg on Oct. 23, 1946, and together they raised three children, Dale, Nancy and Roger. They resided in Grantsburg, until 1972 when they moved to Amery where Wes was employed by Union State Bank. Bea was employed at Willow Ridge and also at Hartmann’s Clothing Store in Amery. They moved several times after that to Franklin, Minn., New Richmond, Milltown, Baldwin until finally returning to Amery in 2003. She loved entertaining, family, flowers, baking and her grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her parents, Roy and Ella Halstead. She is survived by her husband, Wesley, of Amery; her children and their spouses, Dale (Susan) Olson of Amery, Nancy (Eric) Fennern of Baldwin and Roger (Terri) Olson of Clayton; grandchildren, Allison Fennern, Stephanie Olson, Hayley Olson, Dillan Olson and Aidan Olson; sister, Betty McConnell; brother, Charles Halstead; and many nieces and nephews. Memorial services were held Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Amery, with Pastor Keith Ruehlow. Music was provided by organist Helen Osborn. Interment will be at Riverside Cemetery in Grantsburg. The Cremation Society of Wisconsin was entrusted with arrangements.

Helen E. Clark Helen E. Clark of Balsam Lake, died Jan. 7, at the Osceola Medical Center. She was 85 years old. She was born Oct. 10, 1921, in Montana to George and Sophie Dodd. On May 10, 1945, she married Stanley (Bud) Clark at St. Peter’s Lutheran Church in Dresser. To this union, five children were born, Judith, Jon, Keith, Kay and LuAnn. She worked for Polk County for many years. She retired in 1983. She was an active and involved member of Faith Lutheran Church of Balsam Lake. She was preceded in death by her husband; and three children, Judith, Keith and Kay. She is survived by her son, Jon, and daughter, LuAnn; grandchildren, Scott (Tina) Clark, Dawn Clark, Jon (Tammy) Clark Jr., Allison (Scott) Tack, Robert, Kristine, Matthew (Tina) and Joshua O’Brien; three great-grandchildren, Kyle and Coty Melin and Samantha Larson; a sister, Irene (Betty Denh) Johnson and many friends. A memorial service will be held Jan. 27, at Faith Lutheran Church in Balsam Lake at 2 p.m. Visitation will be held one hour before the service. Interment will be at Balsam Lake Cemetery in the spring. Pallbearers are Scott Clark, Jon Clark Jr., Scott Tack, Robert O’Brien, Matthew O’Brien and Joshua O’Brien.

Emily B. Koethe Emily B. Koethe, 92, of Centuria, died at Cambridge Care Center in Cambridge, Minn., on Tuesday, Jan. 16. She was born in Le Seur, Minn., on April 24, 1914, to Frank and Caroline Pourrier. She married Charles Koethe on Sept. 9, 1935, and made their home in St. Paul, Minn., for many years. Later they moved to Lewis to a farm and eventually settling in Centuria. Emily was a nurse’s aide for many years, working at the nursing home in Centuria and the White House Nursing Home in Roseville, Minn. Emily was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Charles; brothers, Frank, George, Charley and Edward; sisters, Lila and Mary. She is survived by her children, Charles (Rusty) Koethe of Palm Bay, Fla., Carolynn (James) Schloer of Forest Lake, Minn., Richard (Audrey) Koethe of Prescott, Claudette (Duane) Oberg of Isanti, Minn.; 20 grandchildren and many great-and great-great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Kolstad-Rowe Funeral Home in Centuria on Saturday, Jan. 20. Interment was at the East Lincoln Township Cemetery in rural Amery on Saturday following the service. The Kolstad-Rowe Funeral Home, Centuria, was entrusted with arrangements.

OBITUARIES Loyal W. Lunde

Phillip M. Edwall

Loyal Lunde died Jan. 16, at the Pioneer Nursing Home in Luck. He was 81 years old. Loyal was born Oct. 12, 1925, to Loyal and Christine (Erickson) Lunde. He spent his childhood in the North Valley area of Eureka Township. He entered the Navy in the spring of 1944, where he served honorably in the North Atlantic with a gun crew for Merchant ships during World War II. He also served time on the U.S.S. Henrica transporting troops back to the United States at the end of the war. He married Rosella Cross on July 23, 1949. To this union, four children were born. Loyal and Rosella were married for 41 years until her untimely death in 1991. They spent their years in St. Croix Falls and the Dresser area where Loyal worked as a carpenter, worked at Ford Motor Co., and finally 34 years at FMC Corporation until his retirement. Loyal’s love for antiques led him to shows and auctions where he eventually met Peggy Lawless, his beloved partner for the final 11 years of his life. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Rosella; grandson, Jeremiah Finch; brother, Rud; and sisters, Iola Bengtson, Lyla McClean and Jean Rutch. He is survived by Peggy Lawless; brothers, Curt and Mick; sister, Betty Bystrom; sons, Allen (Pam), Jerry (Ginger) and Randy; daughter, Debra Finch; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. Services were held at North Valley Lutheran Church and interment took place at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in St. Croix Falls. The Edling Funeral Home, St. Croix Falls, was entrusted with arrangements.

Phillip M. Edwall, Danbury, died Jan. 14, 2007, at St. Mary’s Medical Center in Duluth, Minn. He was 46 years old. Phillip was born Nov. 13, 1960, in Shell Lake to Raynold and Georgia (Mack) Edwall. Phillip attended Kellogg High School in St. Paul, Minn., graduating in 1978. Phillip loved the outdoors. He was an avid outdoorsmen, enjoyed hunting, fishing and trips to Canada. Phillip enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Gopher Hockey. Phillip was preceded in death by his father, Raynold; grandparents George and Marie Mack and Hugo and Marie Edwall; and his dog, Teddy. He is survived by his mother , Georgia Edwall, Danbury; brothers Mark (Karen) Edwall, North St. Paul, Minn., and Joseph (Vicki) Edwall, New Richmond; uncle Alfred Edwall, Spooner; aunts Donna (Jack) Butters, San Antonio, Texas, Mary Jo Edwall of Arizona, Theresa (Arthur) Sundeen, Spooner, Ann Breitback, Forest Lake, Minn., and Mary (Richard) Denham, Janesville; special cousins Muriel and Jack Mitchell, Spooner; other relatives and friends. Funeral services were held Jan. 19, 2007, at St. Francis de Sales Catholic Church, Spooner, with Father Michael Tupa officiating. Music was provided by organist Sr. Dominica Effertz and the St. Francis de Sales Choir. Casket bearers were Joe Edwall, Mark Edwall, Jack Mitchell, Terry Johnson, Larry Todd and Peter Sundeen. The Scalzo-Taylor Funeral Home, Spooner, was entrusted with arrangements.

EDLING FUNERAL HOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

EDLING TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME 387 State Rd. 70 Grantsburg, WI (715) 463-2994

Leslie Raymond Johansen Leslie Raymond Johansen, age 88, of Luck , died Jan. 23, at the United Pioneer Home. Leslie was born Jan. 25, 1918, to Albert and Anna (Bennedsen) Johansen on the Peter Johansen farm in Luck Township. Later the family moved to their farm in Laketown, where Leslie attended East Laketown School and West Denmark Lutheran Church. He married Evelyn Kirk on Oct. 17, 1942, at West Denmark Church. They bought the Martin Pedersen farm in West Denmark, where son Dean was born in 1946, and daughter Margaret in 1948. Their log house on this farm was later moved to Old Work Wisconsin, Eagle, and dedicated by Denmark’s Queen Margrethe in 1976. Leslie worked for Luck Township and served as town chairman. After his farm auction in 1968, he worked for the Polk County Highway Department. He retired in 1983, and in 1986, he and Evelyn moved to Eau Claire, where he did woodworking and made several grandfather clocks for family and friends. Leslie and Evelyn moved to Chippewa Falls and lived there until they returned to West Denmark in 2001. Medical conditions caused Leslie to move to the Frederic Care Center, and then to the Pioneer Home in Luck. Leslie was preceded in death by his parents; siblings Ellen Pedersen, Stella Veirs, Oleeta Hermanson, Doris Bengston, Ardys Johansen, Ervin and Levi Johansen; and son-in-law Alvin E. Lemke. He is survived by his wife; son Dean (Kathy); daughter, Margaret; grandsons Edward (Laura) Johansen and Eric (Carrie) Johansen; granddaughter Anne Johansen; step-granddaughter Jodi (Lary) Olson; step-grandsons Jeffrey, Ryan, David Dixon; eight great-grandchildren and many cousins, nieces, nephews and friends. Memorial services will be held on Saturday, Feb. 3, at the West Denmark Lutheran Church at 2 p.m. Visitation with family and friends preceding the service and fellowship at the West Denmark Parish Hall after the service.

Memorial service set SIREN - The obituary notice for Mavis Gjonnes in last week’s Leader did not indicate a time for the memorial service. It will be held at the Siren Assembly of God Church at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 27.

Bessie Swenson Bessie Swenson, 95, died Wednesday, Jan. 17, at United Pioneer Home in Luck. She was born June 8, 1911, in Noonan, N.D. She lived most of her life in the Wolf Creek, Trade River area. She married Willard Swenson in 1928 and to this union 12 children were born. They left the farm in 1972 and moved to a mobile home on their son’s farm. In 1992 they moved to a mobile home in St. Croix Falls. In 1998, they celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary. Bessie was a homemaker, but she also milked cows, canned food and tended large gardens. She loved making quilts, crocheting, playing 500 and dice games well into her 90s. Visitors were always served coffee and baked goods. Willard passed away in 1999. In 2005, Bessie moved to Comforts of Home assisted living in St. Croix Falls. She broke her hip in August 2006. She moved to Luck Pioneer Home where she resided until her passing. She is survived by her sisters, Edna Johnson and Margaret Smith; her son, Curtis (Cora) Swenson, Arlen (Marcie) Swenson, Eugene (Beverly) Swenson, Richard (Lois) Swenson, William Swenson, Darrel (Karen) Swenson; and daughters, Betty (Vern) Doolittle, Diane (Cass) Nielsen, Luann (David) Dilley; 42 grandchildren; 75 great-grandchildren; 10 great-greatgrandchildren; and many step-grandchildren and step-great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by husband, Willard Swenson; daughters, Marion Huna, Marlys Carlson; and son, Charles Swenson; son-in-laws, Dale Carlson, Curtis Johnson; daughter-in-law, Louise Swenson and grandson, Todd Nielsen. Funeral services were held Monday, Jan. 22, at Trade River Evangelical Free Church, Trade River. Pastor Dale Van Deusen officiated. Interment was at Trade River Cemetery. The Edling Funeral Home, Grantsburg, was entrusted with arrangements.

EDLING FUNERAL HOME 201 N. Adams St. St. Croix Falls, WI (715) 483-3141

EDLING TAYLOR FUNERAL HOME 387 State Rd. 70 Grantsburg, WI (715) 463-2994

PAGE 24 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

CHURCH NEWS God and the environment

Judgment

At last! Evangelical Christians of every denomination are being called to act in support of Earth stewardship. Recently, a man wrote a book about his spiritual journey to environmental stewardship. After seeing Sally Bair so many cancer, asthma, and other chronically diseased patients, he turned to his faith to learn answers on how to be a good steward of the PERSPECTIVES land. He downsized his lifestyle drastically, leading his family to better health and spiritual richness. God holds us accountable for the care of his creation. Leviticus 25:23 records that we are God’s tenants of the land. There is a direct correlation between the condition of our spiritual life and the condition of the land. When we continue to live only for ourselves, it affects all of creation. A recent documentary chronicles the history of people near the Arctic Circle. In spite of having learned about Christ generations ago, eventually most of the villagers became addicted to drugs and alcohol. Suicides and hopelessness pervaded every village. People became careless of the environment, causing the caribou and certain sea animals to leave the area. Then, a few Christian villagers gathered night and day for months to pray and fast. Their prayers brought revival that swept through the villages. Hearts were changed, positively affecting every other facet of life. People began caring for the land—and the caribou and sea animals returned. What a testimony to God’s plan! For too long we—a Christian nation—have plundered the Earth to meet our materialistic desires. Its effects are sobering. The pollution from one power plant in Massachusetts was found to cause 1,200 ER visits, 3,000 asthma attacks, and 110 deaths annually. Changing five of our most used light bulbs to compact fluorescent would take 21 coal-fired power plants offline, and keep one trillion pounds of poisonous gases and soot out of our air (equivalent to taking eight million cars off the road). Some 64,000 people die in the U.S. every year because of soot in the air. Second Chronicles 7:14 says: “…if my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” In June, a coalition of conservative evangelicals will meet in Maryland to encourage congregations to take environmental stewardship more seriously. I’m happy to see this coming. Conservatives and conservationists should be natural allies, not foes. Environmentalism should not be a political issue, but one that we all should heed. Lord, thank you for revealing yourself through your creation. Help us understand the connection between God’s magnificent creation and our growing faith. In Jesus’ name, amen. (To request a list of sources, please contact Mrs. Bair at sallybair@gmail.com.)

ETERNAL

Knights of Columbus present check

Two members of Frederic 6370 Knights of Columbus paid a surprise visit to the benefit that Trinity Lutheran Church in Falun gave for Jeff and Bonnie Moody last Thursday. The Moodys had suffered a fire in the basement of their home, and had experienced considerable smoke damage. The K of C came to present two checks totaling $500 to the Moodys. The money came from funds that the K of C gathers across the state and locally for charitable purposes. Pictured are (L to R) are: Jeff Moody and Knights Dave Rudolph and Charlie Altstatt. - Photo by Carl Heidel

will not be judged by, in regards to salvation: (Part 3 in a series) We will not be judged by… our Feelings, Last week I pointed out that we can Opinions, or Personal Beliefs. clearly see in the scriptures that Christ We will not be judged by… Preachers, Pashas All Authority (Matthew 28:18), His tors, or Priests. Authority is vested in His Word and it is We will not be judged by… Councils, this Word that we will be judged by (John Assemblies or Religious Synods. Garret We will not be judged by… Religious Creeds, 12:48-50). When people discuss the topic of judgment, many will flinch or shy Derouin Catechisms or Manuals of Disciplines. away from such a “harsh” word. Many We will not be judged by the opinions of… quickly comment that Christ did not our Parents, Family, Friends, or Loved Ones. THE come to judge the world, but to save it. What will we be judged by? Christ’s But, it is important when we look at PREACHER’S WORD PEN scriptures that we look at the entire state“…the word that I have spoken, the same ment (please read John 12:44-50). shall judge him in the last day.” John 12:48 Christ said that He did not come, at Next week we will look at how God’s word that time, to judge mankind. At that time, He came has been transmitted to us in order that we can to deliver God’s gift of salvation. It will be on the have access and knowledge of it. “Day of Judgment”… as the scriptures abundantIf readers have questions or simply wish to ly teach, that Christ, the Son of God, shall judge know more about the Church of Christ, we invite us… and that judgment shall be by His Word. The you to call 715-866-7157 or stop by the church authority of Christ has been vested or placed in building at 7425 W. Birch St. in Webster. Office the word, which He received from God. hours are Tuesdays through Fridays 9 a.m.-noon. Since we are going to be judged by the doc- Sunday Bible class begins at 9:30 a.m., Worship is trine of Christ (His teaching, His Word)… there are at 10:30 a.m. and Wednesday evening class is at 7 some things, by default, that we can know that we p.m.

Installation of Officers held

Trinity Lutheran Church of Danbury held the installation of officers at their service on Sunday morning. These officers will serve the congregation for the upcoming year. Shown above are back row: Margel Ruck, Bill Buhler, Larry McAuley, Earl Jones, Ron Main and Arlene Main. Front row: Marilyn Meyer, Jan Hill, Barb McAuley, Pastor John Siedschlag, Joel Drahos (elder at Our Redeemer) and Wayne Jones. - Photo submitted by Russ Estridge

Bethany encourages youth participation Ian Fox-Martin assisted with the 10:30 a.m. worship service at Bethany Lutheran Church in Siren Sunday, Jan. 21. He is a confirmation student in seventh grade. The day’s Gospel lesson and sermon were taken from Luke 4:14-21, where Jesus returned to his hometown of Nazareth to speak in the synagogue. In verse 18, Jesus proclaimed, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.” The Bethany congregation gathers to worship each Sunday at 8 and 10:30 a.m., with fellowship activities for all ages on Wednesday evenings. An adult study of the Islam religion begins Wednesday evening, Feb. 7, and continues for eight weeks. Everyone is welcome. For more information, call 715-349-5280. – from Bethany Lutheran Church

“Time Changer” showing at Webster Baptist WEBSTER – The movie “Time Changer,” will be shown at First Baptist Church of Webster on Friday, Jan. 26, 7 p.m. It’s 1890 and Bible professor, Russell Carlisle, prepares his new book for publication. Dr. Norris Anderson believes leaving out Christ could destroy the faith of future generations. Anderson

sends his colleague into the future to find out where his beliefs will lead. Following the movie, pop and popcorn will be served during a time of discussion. The public is invited to this powerful movie. For more information call 715-866-4111. – submitted

JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 25

Appeasement is rarely successful in relationships Q: Earlier this year, my husband of 11 years announced that he didn’t love me anymore. Joe told me that he would be leaving, though by begging and pleading with him, he agreed to stay for awhile. Then one night he became cruel and said many mean things before walking out. Every time I see him, I humiliate myself. I beg him to call the kids and me, but he only says, “I don’t want to talk to you.” I tell him how much I love him, and he’ll reply, “I have no love for you! I don’t hate you, but I don’t love you either.” I was recently told by my doctor that I must have surgery on my eyes and that I might possibly lose my vision. Out of fear and panic, I broke down and called my husband, but he responded with indifference to the news. I asked if he would take me to the hospital and stay in the waiting room while I had the surgery. Joe hesitated and then said, “Well, I guess so.” Why is Joe acting this way to me? Is there something I am doing wrong? DR. DOBSON: I’m going to speak very directly to you, although I understand the pain that you’re going through. There is no greater heartache in life than to be rejected by the one you love. But by courage and determination, you will survive the crisis that has beset your home. With that, let me say that the compulsion that is driving you to plead for Joe’s attention and love is sys-

CHURCH tematically destroying your last glimmer of hope for reconciliation. By groveling before him, you are stripping yourself of all dignity and respect. Those two attitudes are critical ingredients in any stable and fulfilling relationship. This is the message you are inadvertently conveying: “Oh, Joe, I need you so badly. I can’t make it without you. I spend my days waiting for you to call, and I’m crushed when the phone doesn’t ring. Won’t you please, please let me talk to you occasionally? I’ll take you any way I can have you – even if you want to walk all over me. I am desperate here without you.” This is a classic panic reaction, and it is leading you to appease your husband. Appeasement is virtually never successful in human relationships. In fact, it often leads directly to war, whether between husbands and wives or between antagonistic nations. Attempts by one side to “buy off” an aggressor or offender may seem like proposals of peace, but in most cases they merely precipitate further insult and conflict. Nothing destroys a romantic relationship more quickly than for a person to throw himself or herself, weeping and clinging, on the back of the cool partner to beg for mercy. That makes the wayward spouse even more eager to escape from the leech that threatens to suck his life’s blood. He may pity the wounded partner and wish that things were different, but he can rarely bring himself to love again under those circumstances. You need to understand that Joe’s withdrawal from the relationship is directly linked to his quest for free-

dom. He is feeling suffocated and wants to escape from the marriage. By humiliating yourself and clinging to his ankles each time you meet, you increase his desire to get away. The more he struggles to gain his freedom, the more he feels your clutches tighten around him. It becomes a vicious cycle. ••• Q: Are all forms of child abuse illegal? DR. DOBSON: Not in any practical sense. Within certain limits it is not illegal to ignore a child or raise him or her without love. Nor is it against the law to ridicule and humiliate a boy or girl. Those forms of rejection may be more harmful even than some forms of physical abuse, but they are tougher to prove and are usually not prosecutable. Dr. Dobson is founder and chairman of the board of the nonprofit organization Focus on the Family, P.O. Box 444, Colorado Springs, CO. 80903; or www.family.org. Questions and answers are excerpted from “The Complete Marriage and Family Home Reference Guide” and “Bringing Up Boys,” both published by Tyndale House. COPYRIGHT 2007 JAMES DOBSON INC., DISTRIBUTED BY UNIVERSAL PRESS SYNDICATE 4520 Main St., Kansas City, Mo. 64111; 816-932-6600.

Brought to you by:

Luck and St. Peter’s Lutheran Churches Luck

PAGE 26 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

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JANUARY 24, 2007 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B - PAGE 27

Students of the Week FREDERIC

Sophie Fredericks has been chosen Frederic Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in kindergarten and the daughter of Jacob and Meghan Fredericks. Sophie is a very good student and a hard worker. Her favorite subjects in school are recess, coloring, phy ed and reading. She is very eager to learn and willing to help others. Outside of school, Sophie likes to play on the ice rink and playground.

Joe Engelhart has been chosen Frederic Middle School’s student of the week. He is in seventh grade and the son of Grey and Barb Engelhart. Joe is on the honor roll and definitely a good student, with a good work ethic. He is repectful of other people and a good school citizen. Joe is involved in confirmation, hockey, football and baseball. His hobbies are wood carving and music.

ST. CROIX FALLS

Christopher Woddell has been chosen Frederic High School’s student of the week. He is a junior and the son of Art and Kriston Martin. Christopher takes as many classes as possible and has multiple inerests. He is conscientious about assignments. Christopher has good school spirit, is friendly with peers and respectful to adults. He is in Boy Scouts and football. Hobbies include fixing and building things.

Madison Snyder has been chosen St. Croix Falls Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in third grade and the daughter of Jim and Lori Snyder. At school, phy ed and reading are her favorite subjects. At home Madison likes to play with her brother Colten and read with her mom and dad. She has a marble collection and also collects pretty pebbles. Madison takes time to do her homework well and can take pride in the work she hands in.

LUCK

Makenzie Kalinna has been chosen as Luck Elementary School’s student of the week. She is in kindergarten and the daughter of Amy Caroon. Mackenzie’s favorite activites in school are music class and going into the writing center. Makenzie is an excellent worker and gets along well with her classmates.

James Strenke has been chosen Luck Middle School’s student of the week. He is in seventh grade. James is a student who is conscientious, polite and pleasant to all those around him and a delight to have in class. He is involved in football. James enjoys watching TV in his spare time. The greatest influence in in his life is his mom.

WEBSTER

Peter Rozumalski has been chosen Luck High School’s student of the week. He is a senior and the son of Mike and Linda Rozumalski. Peter has earned 3 academic letters and is in NHS. He is a student who is always looking to learn more information than is necessary. The actual learning process is more important to him than the grade he will earn. He is involved in drama, track, soccer and is on the graduation committee. His future plans include college to study psychology.

Daniel Formanek has been chosen Webster Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in fourth grade and the son of Dennis and Laura Formanek. Dan is a happy student and has a cooperative attitude toward school and friends. He always has a positive attitude and works hard at school. Dan is a good citizen and a joy to have in class.

SIREN

Aaron Zirngibl has been chosen Siren Elementary’s student of the week. He is in fourth grade and was nominated for being a good friend. Aaron enjoys spending time with his friends. He likes to play video games. Aaron likes school. He enjoys learning new computer skills and likes spending time in the library.

Danielle Keller has been chosen Siren Middle School’s student of the week. She is the daughter of Danny and Sarah Keller. Danielle is a hardworking young lady. She is very helpful to the teachers and is always willing to open a door or run an errand. Danielle, an honor roll student, participates in volleyball, basketball and track.

Zoey Carney has been chosen St. Croix Falls Middle School’s student of the week. She is the daugher of Jay and Rachel Carney. Zoey is a very pleasant student to have in class. She is usually in an upbeat mood and everyone enjoys having her in class. Her hobbies are doing sports such as volleyball and 4H. She loves riding horses, playing with animals, hanging with friends, drawing and reading.

Ashley Dietmeier has been chosen Webster Middle School’s student of the week. She is in fifth grade and the daughter of Lina and Paul Dietmeier. Ashley is a wonderful student to have in class. She demonstrates superior study skills in the classroom which allows her time to be active in the band and excel on the ice as an avid hockey player. Although somewhat shy, Ashley is very easy to get along with, and very popular among her peers.

Brian Thill has been chosen Webster High School’s student of the week. He is a junior and the son of Dan and Linda Thill. Brian has excellent attendance and has earned staright A’s this year. He has a friendly personality and a good sense of humor. Brian has been an outstanding teacher’s aide this quarter. He is involved in band, student council, youth group, football, basketball and track. He enjoys fishing and playing sports. He will attend college for wildlife biology.

UNITY

Amanda McIntire has been chosen Siren High School’s student of the week. She is the daughter of TJ and Lisa McIntire. Amanda is helpfull, curious and motivated to get things done. She is always willing to help her group or individual classmates when needed. She is courteous in the way she treats others. Amanda also uses her time wisely in class and turns in her work in on time.

GRANTSBURG Daniel Gaffney has been chosen Grantsburg High School’s student of the week. He is a freshman and the son of Molly Greg. Daniel helps kids with their homework. His interests include running, basketball and swimming. His future plans include college. Daniel’s parents are the greatest influence in his life because they are always there for him. His most valued character trait is his belief in the Lord and being kind to others.

Josh Gorne has been chosen Unity Elementary School’s student of the week. He is in third grade and the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Gorne. Josh always does his best and is very conscientious about school work. He always has a smile on his face. Josh has a very willing attitude, he is trustworthy and dependable. You can always count on Josh.

Heather Duxbury has been chosen Unity High School’s student of the week. She is a senior and the daughter of Leonard Duxbury of Canyon Lake, Texas, and Sharon Ronnenburg of Milltown. Heather has a positive attidue, good work ethic and the desire to succeed. She enjoys swimming, basketball and writing. She plans to attend college after school for nursing.

Congratulations students on a job well done!

PAGE 28 - INTER-COUNTY LEADER - NORTHERN CURRENTS, SECTION B- JANUARY 24, 2007

JANUARY

THURSDAY/25 Amery

• First Lutheran Church Meatball Dinner, 4-7 p.m.

Coming events

Coming event items are published as a public service. Items must be submitted by 10 a.m. on Mondays to be assured of publication in that week’s issue.

FEBRUARY

Luck

• Democratic Party of Polk County, annual meeting and election of officers, 7 p.m., at Hog Wild BBQ and Grill, Luck. Everyone welcome!

THURSDAY/1 Frederic

• 500 card night, 6:30 p.m. at the center.

THUR.&FRI./25&26

Hertel

St. Croix Falls

• First meeting of the Namekagon Barrens friends group, 6:30 p.m., at the gymnasium of the St. Croix Tribal Center. Become a founding member.

• Colors of the World coming to St. Croix Falls High School. Event focuses on raising awareness of prejudice to empower students to confront prejudice when they see it. Begins at 10 a.m. each day. Call 715-483-9823, ext. 328 or 232 for information.

SATURDAY/3 Siren

Unity

• South Fork Sporting Club Gun Show, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. at the Northwoods Crossing. Buy, sell or trade. Public welcome, exhibitors wanted. For info or reserve tables contact Richard Kettula, 715-6534291.

SATURDAY/27

• I’m a Parent seminar, at the Covenant Church. Call 715-349-5601 for more info.

• A Writers’ Forum, 7:30 p.m. at the Northern Lakes Center for the Arts. An evening of original stories, poems and essays read by the authors as published in Northern Lakes Soundings.

• Fifth-annual Jack Frost Fest, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Ice-fishing contest, antique snowmobile show, ATV pull & more.

FRIDAY/26 • Chili Feed, 5-7:30 p.m. at the high school before the SCF doubleheader basketball game.

Amery

Spooner

Atlas

St. Croix Falls

• Suzy Q’s Snowshoe Ice-Fishing Contest, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Long Trade Lake. Call 715-483-9458 for more info.

• Ice Age Trail, Indianhead Chapter annual meeting, 10 a.m. at the Interpretive Center at Interstate State Park. For more info, call Dean at 715-472-2248.

Danbury

• Danbury Lions Club present 29th-annual Burlingame Ice-Fishing contest in Danbury. 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Cash prizes for fish categories. Lots of door prizes. Tickets can be purchased on the ice.

• Benefit for Tami Swenson, spaghetti dinnner, raffle and silent auctioin, 3-7 p.m. at the American Legion Hall.

Wanderoos

Frederic

• Lions Club’s 18th-annual Ice-Fishing Contest at Lake Wapo, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

• Potluck, noon at the senior center. Bingo begins at 1:30, or cards, pool or fellowship. Please bring a dish to pass or a monetary donation.

• Webb Lake Men’s Club Ice-Fishing Contest, on lower Webb Lake at Oak Ridge Inn, 10 a.m.- 2:30 p.m.

• Knights of Columbus free-throw contest, 8:15 a.m. at the high school.

Webb Lake

A bridge over icy water. The Yellow River north of Webster showing the Gandy Dancer Trail bridge. – Photo by Sherill Summer • African Hunting Seminar, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. at Great Northern Outdoors. 715-327-4417 or 888-869-5099 for more info.

Luck

• Bon Ton Ice-fishing contest and 1-cylinder snowmobile drags, 10 a.m.-3:30 p.m. on Little Butternut Lake. Call 715-472-2959 for more info.

New Richmond

• Biofuel class offered at WITC. Students will get hands-on experience, includes lecture and lab. Call 715-246-6561 for information.

Osceola

• Rod and Gun Club’s 25th-annual Rabbit Hunt, call 715-755-2540 for more info.

SUNDAY/28 Amery

• St. Joseph Church’s 43rd-annual Ice-Fishing Contest, 7 a.m. at North Twin Lake. Chicken dinner and raffle.

Dresser

• Military ski free day at Trolhaugen. For info call or go to www.trolhaugen.com.

Siren

• Wedding Showcase, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. at Northwoods Crossing Event Center.

MONDAY/29 Frederic

• Spades are played, 1:30 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome. • American Red Cross Blood Drive, at Frederic 7-12 performance area. 9:30 a.m. - 2:15 p.m. For information call Dorothea Jensen at 715-327-5642 or Ethan Bergstrom at 715-3274223, ext. 124.

Rice Lake

• WITC College Night, 5-8 p.m. in the WITC conference center. Formerly financial aid night.

TUESDAY/30 Siren

• Cholesterol & Diabetes Screening, call Public Health at 715-349-2140 for appt. Cost $45. • Burnett County Republican Party will meet at 7 p.m. in Room 162 at the Government Center. Call to caucus.

Webster

• Food & Friends community dinner, 5-6 p.m., at Grace United Methodist Church.

WEDNESDAY/31 Grantsburg

• Red Hat Ladies, brunch at American Legion, 11 a.m. Call Yvonne at 715-463-5344, Marlys at 715-463-5357 or Anette at 715-689-2776 by 1/26.

SUNDAY/4 Balsam Lake

• 20th-annual Ice-Fishing contest at Ward’s Balsam Beach Resort, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Call 715-485-3267 for more info.

Dresser

• All-you-care-to-eat breakfast, 8 a.m. noon. Everyone welcome. Dresser VFW, Hwy. 35.

MONDAY/5 Frederic

• Spades are played, 1:30 p.m., at the senior center. Everyone welcome.

TUESDAY/6 Balsam Lake

• Understanding Your Polk County Property Taxes at the Polk County Library Federation, 400 Polk County Plaza, noon - 1 p.m.

Regional Hospice Bereavement program gets new secretary SHELL LAKE — Maija Liisa Phernetton, Shell Lake, is one of those people who makes you see the good in humanity. When her mother-in-law was diagnosed with terminal cancer, their doctor told the family about hospice. “It meant so much to have hospice around,” says Phernetton. “Why not give back?” Phernetton, who had never taken the time to do any volunteer work before, signed up for the Regional Hospice volunteer training and then began visiting, and sometimes cooking for people enrolled in the hospice program. “This is one of the best things to be able to do,” she says. With a passion for cooking, a love of life, and positive perspective on life, volunteering in this way for hospice was natural for Phernetton. Recently, when the Spooner/Grantsburg office of Regional Hospice needed a new bereavement secretary, Phernetton saw a way to put her extensive business background to work. The Regional Hospice Bereavement

Maija Liisa Phernetton, Shell Lake, is the new secretary for the Regional Hospice Bereavement Program. — Photo submitted

Program maintains connection with the family of deceased patients for up to 13 months. The hospice chaplain offers emotional and spiritual support to people of all faiths, encouraging them to reach out to their sources of strength. For Theresa Riewestahl, Regional Hospice chaplain of the Spooner/Grantsburg and Hayward offices, Phernetton has been a tremendous gift. “Maija Liisa is insightful and creative. She has already expanded her responsibilities. This allows me to focus more on direct care of patients and their families.” Phernetton is responsible for coordinating communication with families, keeping supplies and paperwork current, creating bags for children filled with items to help them cope with grief, and, in general, keeping things running smoothly from a logistical perspective. She provides the kind of behind-thescenes support that keeps any good program running well.

Asked what motivates her to do this work, Phernetton talks about her desire to put her business skills to good use and her desire to give back. But one gets the impression that what really keeps her going is her feelings about the patients themselves. “They are all angels going back to where they came from.” People interested in learning more information about Regional Hospice can call 635-9077. And people wanting to see Maija Liisa Phernetton can look for her driving around the Shell Lake area where she can be found delivering mail for the post office. — from Regional Hospice