WEDNESDAY, APRIL 8, 2015
Serving Polk County’s St. t CCroix i VValley ll since i 1897 1897
VOL. 127 NO. 36
www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: OWC wrestling wins state championship. P10
Not so ladylike
Tracks of change Local author highlights Osceola in historical fiction
Ladies Night Out expands geographically and in concept
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Get him talking on the history of the river valley and Fred Brede, it seems, could expound for hours. “There are so many things about the river I could tell you,” he says, excitement in his voice. “The boats, the Swing Bridge, Osceola and the railroad.” Brede, originally from Rice Lake, recently fi nished a work of historical fiction set in Osceola, 1886 to 1887.
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Testimony was given by Doug Ducklow, investigator from the Pierce County Sheriff’s Department, about the specifi cs of the accident. He testifi ed that the road conditions were wet when he arrived and that the 2005 Saturn
What started years ago as a chance for local women to get their hair and nails done while giving to worldwide conservation nonprofits is growing into a valley wide effort to both embrace and challenge ideas o f femininity. In years past, when women signed up for an evening of collective pampering at Osceola’s Studio A Salon Spa, a portion of the admission fee went to environmental organizations through Aveda’s Earth Month campaign. The same event will happen this year, but it will be one of many making up the larger “Ladies Night Out, St. Croix Valley Style.” The expanded version of the event is designed to refl ect the diverse interests of women in the valley, says Germaine Ross, director of Osceola’s Chamber of Commerce. This is the fi rst year the Chamber has been involved in planning the evening “A lot of [local women] are connected with hiking, biking, hunting, crafting,” explained Ross. “It’s all part of living, working and playing here. This year it became important to look at the bigger picture. We wanted this to go beyond the typical Ladies Night Out and showcase role models, fi tness and natural beauty. We got excited by the concept of ‘like a girl.’” She’s referring to Always’ Super Bowl advertisement that called on viewers to reclaim what it means to do somethin g “like a girl.” The ad brought to light fi ndings from consumer research studies revealing that girls’ confi dence plummets once they hit puberty — likely a result of cultural messaging. Nationally, the ad hit a nerve and the idea went viral, hashtag and all, as both women and men leaped at the chance to empower women with the phrase “like a girl.” In parallel, the reinvented Ladies Night Out isn’t about rejecting female stereotypes as much as expanding them. Ross worked with Studio A’s Ashley Rutledge and other small busi-
SEE MILBERG, PAGE 11
SEE LADIES, PAGE 5
LINDA | CREATIVE COMMONS
Kayakers paddle beneath the rail bridge south of Osceola in July, 2013. The bridge was built to accommodate river traffic by swinging open on the center support.
SEE TRAIN, PAGE 5
Digging into an economic revival Below the surface, J&S expansion signals economic growth BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
On the surface, breaking ground for a new building at J&S General Contracting means simply that the Osceola company will have more offi ce space and a place to house new equipment they’ve acquired over the last year and a half. But dig just under the surface, says Mark Erickson, president of Central Bank, and you’ll find it’s a sign of economic growth. That’s because J&S works in the early stages of new construction, excavating and laying fl atwork concrete for SEE J&S, PAGE 11
SUZANNE LINDGREN |THE SUN
Digging in: Mark Erickson of Central Bank breaks ground on J&S General Contracting’s next project with owners Steve Mueller and Dan Thiel, Osceola’s Village Administrator Joel West and Village President Gary Beckmann.
Milberg to stand trial, pleads not guilty BY TOM STANGL TSTANGL@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Following a hearing in Pierce County on April 1, Judge Joseph Boles ruled that there was enough evidence presented for Kari Milberg to stand trial in the deaths of her daughter and two nieces
that resulted from an automobile accident on b Dec. 12, 2013. MilD berg’s attorney b Aaron Nelson A entered a plea of e not guilty to the n tthree charges of homicide by negh Milberg Milb lligent operation
NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
of a vehicle and one count of reckless driving causing injury. Testimony in the hour long hearing presented facts from the State of Wisconsin’s case against Milberg, outlined by witnesses called by Pierce County District Attorney Sean Froelich.
ADVERTISING 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone