WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2015
Serving Polk County’s St. t Croix C i Valley V ll since i 1897
VOL. 127 NO. 44
www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola girls and boys track teams win at regional meet. P. 10
HUD to review Regional Business Fund ruling BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
After an inquiry from Senator Tammy Baldwin’s office, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [HUD] has agreed to review its decision to refederalize funds from the Regional Business Fund [RBF], a revolving loan fund used by small business owners and entrepreneurs in west central Wisconsin. The funds have been effectively frozen since April 1, when HUD notified RBF of its decision. The change in the fund’s status requires that money be lent according to stricter standards meant to ensure the loan benefits are directed toward people with low to middle incomes. But many involved with the fund believe the narrowed scope would make it difficult for administrators to find applicants that met all requirements and the money would go unused. “It’s virtually impossible for the small communities in our area to
comply with all of the regulations,” said William Johnson, chair of the Polk County Board, at the board’s May 19 meeting. “We’re going to be sitting on this money and not distributing it in the communities,” said Supervisor Josh Hallberg, Balsam Lake. At the meeting, the county board passed a resolution in support of continued defederalization of money in the revolving loan fund. “Basically, we’re asking HUD to consider the criteria that are in place in the area appropriate to keep lending out that money,” said Johnson. “It’s the process that’s been in place since [2008] and it’s worked very well.” St. Croix Falls passed the same resolution at its council meeting May 25. The Regional Business Fund will send these resolutions of support to HUD secretary Julián Castro and the secretary of Wisconsin’s DepartSEE HUD, PAGE 2
Tweets will go to trial Acre-Kendall pleads not guilty to violating bond BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Levi Acre-Kendall pleaded not guilty on May 28 to violating the conditions of his bond through statements and a photo posted on Twitter. The new charges will be debated in trial with Acre-Kendall’s original charge of second-degree reckless homicide, related to the fatal stabbing of Peter “Pete” Kelly, April 14. The two counts of felony bail jumping stem from statements and a photo the nineteen year old put on Twitter in early May, after posting his $75,000 cash bond and returning to his Cambridge home to await his trial. Two tweets — one that referred to the Kelly family and another to weight he’d lost in jail — were reported to authorities by the Kelly family. Looking into the
SUZANNE LINDGREN |THE SUN
Defense attorney Eric Nelson, right, reviews the number of followers Acre-Kendall had on Twitter with Polk County investigator Rick Gearhart. claim, investigators found that two friends Acre-Kendall was not to contact under the conditions of his bond had seen the tweets. In the hearing preceding the plea, Acre-Kendall’s attorney, Eric Nelson, asked Judge Molly GaleWyrick to dismiss the bond violation charges. He argued that although Acre-Kendall’s friends had seen the tweets, the communication was incidental. “Look at the context of what we’re talking about in the modern age,” said Nelson. “Mr. Acre-Kendall is an avid
Twitter user. He is relieved to be released from jail and return to some semblance of normalcy. He sends out a communication that pretty much anybody in the world could see, unless Mr. Acre-Kendall blocked them. That’s not passing a note in class. That’s not direct communication. … It’s not any different than if Mr. Acre-Kendall gave a news interview and these individuals happened to see it.” Nelson noted that Acre-Kendall did eventually block the two friends on Twitter, sup-
porting the claim that he had not intentionally violated the conditions of his bond and that any communication was unintentional. “Blocking his friends might have been too late, it should have been the first thing on his mind,” said Nelson. “But ultimately, upon reflection, he made an effort to comply with the court’s order.” Nelson also defended Acre-Kendall’s choice to change his Twitter cover photo to one of the group of three friends. SEE ACRE-KENDALL, PAGE 2
Wolves in Wisconsin Polk County supports 350 limit BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
In anticipation of Wisconsin regaining control over its gray wolf population, the Polk County Board passed a resolution May 19 in support of keeping wolf numbers to 350 or fewer in the state. The resolution chiefly concerns wolves in northern Wisconsin, where the core population resides. According to the Department of Natural Resources — the agency tasked with management of the wolf population, hypothetical for now because the animal is on the endangered species
list — Wisconsin’s wolf population was between 658 and 687 in early 2014, down from 782 in 2010. The 350 maximum was established in 1999 by the DNR, based on prey availability and human populations. The number was reviewed and confirmed in 2007. David MacFarland, large carnivore specialist for Wisconsin’s DNR, said that when the number was established, there were about 200 wolves in the state, and 350 was set as a goal. There has been some debate since over whether it was ever meant to be considered a cap. According to MacFarland, the resolution SEE COUNTY, PAGE 8
NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Supervisor Warren Nelson, center, was the lone member of Polk County’s board to vote against supporting a 350-wolf maximum in Wisconsin.
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