APRIL 8, 2015
THE SUN
15
www.osceolasun.com
Free clothing event A Free Clothing Event will be April 13 from 2 to 6 p.m. at Peace Lutheran Church, Dresser. The event, sponsored by the church’s Outreach Ministry, features clothing suitable for spring and summer. The clothing is available to the general public at no cost. All items are clean and in good condition, having been donated by members and friends of the Peace Lutheran congregation. The public is asked to please comply with the hours of the event and not arrive before 2 p.m. out of respect to the church staff and their work schedule. For more information, please call the church at (715) 755-2515.
BEARS: Homeowner tips FROM PAGE 13
scaring a bear away, make sure it has a clear escape route — never corner a bear. If you encounter a bear while in the woods, stay calm and do not approach it. Never approach a sow with cubs and do not attempt to break-up a fight between your pet and a bear. The department also reminds homeowners that it is unlawful and unethical to shoot at bears with firearms. “Shooting bears with bird shot is illegal, inhumane and could result in significant injuries or even death for the bear,� said Koele. “There are a variety of non-lethal, hu-
To place an ad call: 715-294-2314
mane abatement options available for resolving conflicts with bears.� The department partners with U.S. Department of Agriculture - Wildlife Services for responding to black bear complaints, and homeowners who are unable to resolve a conflict with a bear should contact the USDA Wildlife Services toll-free line at 1-800-4330663 for properties in Southern Wisconsin, and 1-800-228-1368 for properties Northern Wisconsin. For more information regarding bears and safety, visit the DNR web site at dnr.wi.gov and search keywords “bear.�
Polk County: middle of pack in health rankings Polk County ranks in the middle of the pack for health in the state, according to the annual “County Health Rankings� released by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute (UWPHI) and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF). The rankings are available at www.countyhealthrankings.org. “In Polk County there is significant community interest in continually working to improve the health of Polk County residents,� said Gretchen Sampson, Polk County health officer. “Action teams are specifically addressing countywide initiatives for obesity prevention, mental health and unhealthy alcohol use — the top three health focus areas noted in the most recent community health improvement plan — Healthy Polk County 2020.� For more information on this plan, visit www.healthypolkcounty.com. The “Rankings� are an easyto-use snapshot comparing the health of nearly every county in the nation. The local-level data allows each state to see how its counties compare on 30 factors that influence health, including education, housing, violent crime, jobs, diet and exercise. Polk County ranks in the top half for health outcomes (30) and in the bottom half for health factors (44). Polk ranks near the middle of Wisconsin counties for social and economic factors (38).
Real Estate
SEE COUNTY, PAGE 17
Farms/Homes/Liability McCurdy Agency 715-646-9303 Stack Insurance Services, LLC 715-265-4614 Lake Aire Insurance Agency 715-986-4105
FARMINGTON MUTUAL INSURANCE OfďŹ ce: 715-294-3186 or 715-755-3186
Networking
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Septic
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lowing: Premature death rates are dropping, with 60 percent of the nation’s counties seeing declines. But for many counties, these rates are not improving – 40 percent of counties are not making progress in reducing premature death. One out of four children in the U.S. lives in poverty. Child poverty rates are more than twice as high in the least healthy counties in each state than in the healthiest counties. Violent crime rates are highest in the South. Violent crime rates, which affect health, well-being, and stress levels, are particularly high in the Southwest, Southeast, and Mississippi Delta regions. Having a job influences health. Unemployment rates are 1.5 times higher in the least healthy counties in each state than in the healthiest counties. During the recession, counties in the West, Southeast, and Rust Belt regions of the U.S. were hit hardest by growing unemployment. Many, but not all, of these counties have seen their unemployment rates drop since the recession ended in 2010. “The ‘County Health Rankings’ have helped galvanize communities across the nation to improve health,� said Risa Lavizzo-Mourey, MD, RWJF president and CEO. “Solutions and innovation are coming from places as di-
BUSINESS DIRECTORY
Insurance
Edward Sontag David Neidermire Phyllis Clark Richard Heintz
Polk County ranks in the bottom half for health behaviors (46), and in the bottom quarter for clinical care (56) and physical environment (64). According to the 2015 rankings, the five healthiest counties in Wisconsin, starting with the most healthy, are Ozaukee, followed by Pepin, Calumet, Florence and Kewaunee. The five counties in the poorest health, starting with the least healthy, are Menominee, Milwaukee, Forest, Washburn and Rusk. “Since the ‘County Health Rankings’ began in Wisconsin more than a decade ago, we’ve seen them serve as a rallying point for change,� said Karen Timberlake, director of UWPHI in the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health. “Communities are using the rankings to inform their priorities as they work to improve health for all their residents.� Nationally, this year’s rankings show that the healthiest counties in each state have higher college attendance, fewer preventable hospital stays, and better access to parks and gyms than the least healthy counties. The least healthy counties in each state have more smokers, more teen births and more alcohol-related car crash deaths. This year’s rankings also look at the links between income levels, income distribution, and health. The rankings also reveal the fol-
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A referral based networking group in the upper St. Croix Valley providing networking for professionals in a wide variety of industries.
NEXT MEETING: (all are welcome) Thurs., April 9 • 8 a.m at Osceola Community Church, 2492 Education Drive, Osceola This week’s 7 minute speakers: Bill Chantelois of Ace Hardware Kirk Anderson of Interactive Bus.
Lawn & Garden
Plumbing
BOYD’S OUTDOOR POWER
Osceola Plumbing & Heating, Inc.
• Ariens/Gravely • Jonsered • Tanaka • Mantis • Amsoil • Parts Unlimited • Dolmar
Boyd Dosch • 715-294-3014 930 State Road 35 Dresser, Wisconsin www.boydsoutdoorpower.com
Custom Trailer Manufacturing
NEUMANN ROOFING We clean gutters. 715-220-0053 • 715-294-1662
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Dresser, Wisconsin
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