change of heart

Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 5, 2020 VOL. 122 NO. 27 www.osceolasun.com $1.00

SPORTS: SCF wrestlers win conference title. PAGE 12

Sew what, you ask?

Little Dresses for Africa, that’s what.

Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser will again host a Community Sewing Day, inviting area residents to take part in making dresses to send to needy girls in Africa Feb. 22, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.,

Now in its third year, the community-wide event, sponsored by the church’s Outreach Ministry, was initiated to provide local support for the Little Dresses for Africa international aid project. Peace members Diane Lechman and Vicky Simpkins fi rst learned about the project and early on rallied support from others in the congregation to sew and ship more than 100 dresses to needy nations. That success prompted them to envision what could be accomplished if more people, more churches, organizations and families took part. And “voila!” Last year, 476 dresses were made and sent to Africa.

Can’t sew? No problem. No experience is necessary to cut, iron or even sew – just come and help, for a little while or as long as you can. If you happen to have a portable machine, you’re welcome to bring it. A light lunch will be provided. Children are welcome, but those under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult.

Little Dresses for

SEE DRESSES, PAGE 2

SUBMITTED Last year, community residents cut, sewed, ironed and packed 476 colorful little dresses that were sent to needy girls in Africa through the global non-profi t organization Little Dresses for Africa founded in 2008.

Some familiar names not returning on spring ballot

BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM

For current seat holders in local elections, papers of non-candidacy needed to be fi led by December 27, 2019.

In the Village of Osceola, the candidates fi led and the order in which they will appear on the ballot are: Trustees: Joel West, Bruce Gilliland (incumbent), Deb Rose (incumbent), David Foster. Mike Dunham is a registered write-in candidate and will not be appearing on the ballot.

The Village of Dresser has three positions up for the spring trustee elections. Those running are Jeff Gutzmer (incumbent), Elina Kuusisto (incumbent) and Darren Peterson. Travis Murphy will not be seeking reelection.

There are no positions up for election this year in the Town of Farmington, and the Town of Osceola. Lanette Johnson is the only candidate who has fi led for the Osceola School Board and no other write-ins were fi led. At the County level, Polk County Chairman Dean Johansen, District 3; Larry Jepsen, District 10 Super

SEE ELECTION, PAGE 2

Pennies for Patients kicks off 25 years

BY MATT ANDERSON EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM

Pennies may not seem very useful, but when they help kids fi ght cancer, their value becomes golden. This year’s 25 th anniversary of Pennies for Patients kicked off January 31 at the Osceola Elementary school with a performance by the Osceola High School band, and fun presentations to show kids the value of helping cancer survivors with their pennies.

“In 1994, my brother was diagnosed with leukemia,” says former Osceola second grade teacher Barbara Jorgensen. “He bravely fought this battle for two years before it took his life. The principal contacted me with information about Pennies for Patients and asked me if I was interested in leading this cause and of course I said, ‘yes.’”

Since that time, Jorgensen has helped to organize Pennies for Patients for 25 years, a feat that has helped to save the lives of multiple students diagnosed with the incredibly diffi cult disease of cancer. When asked what 25 years of support for this cause means, she replied, “ It means that we have a

SEE PENNIES, PAGE 9

County welcomes Potters Without Kilns

BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM

Local potters are about to get fi red up about a new venture located between Amery and Star Prairie. Mark and Barbara Lusardi approached the Polk County Environmental Committee Jan. 22 to obtain a permit for Potters Without Kilns (PWK).

A conditional use permit was approved unanimously and will allow the PWK studio to host workshops, fi rings, classes and sales of multiple artists. “It’s such a relief to have gotten the conditional use permit approved as it opens the door on how I fi nish the studio,” said Mark.

Mark said he is an artist who has always been compassionate for the arts and how infl uential they can be to a community. “I am originally from northern Maine where I studied art at the University of Maine at Presque Isle. My love for glaze chemistry in college led to my full-time job as a chemist for Continental Clay in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I am fortunate because my employer allows me to take time off to teach Raku pottery workshops and artist-in-residency programs in the Midwest,” he said.

PWK is dedicated to helping ceramic artists fi nd access to kilns and studios in their area and offer assistance to graduates and artists in transition.

“Through my teaching

SEE KILN, PAGE 2

SUBMITTED Salt/Soda kiln provided to the organization by Warren Mackenzie