Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
Osceola Police hope to discourage graffiti
BY MATT ANDERSON EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
With a spike of graffiti in the Village of Osceola, the Osceola Police Department is hoping to find those involved and discourage continued vandalism. Between the old Osceola Medical Center, the American flag outside of The Staple, and the latest graffiti under the railroad bridge, residents and Osceola Police are doing what they can to address the issue and encourage residents to report similar incidents moving forward.
“We’ve always handled graffiti complaints,” said Osceola Police Chief Andrew Bach.
“Most of the time they’re relatively minor. But some of them can get to all the way up to felony level, which can cost over five figures to repair. We have had an uptick in the last couple months. We had an issue about a month ago where we had some activity at the old Osceola Medical Center and then the flag, and then there was actually some graffiti on that same train bridge, and we were able to identify the suspect in that. But we believe this would be a separate incident.”
The most common area for graffiti in the Village of Osceola is often the old Osce -
An uptick of graffiti in the Village of Osceola has sparked concern from residents. The Osceola Police Department is looking to find those involved and encourages residents to report any new graffiti in the village.
ola Medical Center on River Street and 3rd Avenue, which has been left unoccupied for years. While still an ongoing issue in the village, the continued vandalism has not sparked the same community
response because of its location. However, the more recent graffiti on the bridge and the American flag downtown has led to increased concern from the public.
“We’ve noticed a trend
linked to the old Osceola Medical Center,” said Bach. “It certainly isn’t the same as it was five years ago. We get a lot of folks from out of town and
SEE GRAFFITI, PAGE 2
Osceola town board to address road safety concerns
BY MATT ANDERSON EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Homeowners in the Town of Osceola have sparked response from the Town Board of Supervisors regarding ongoing safety issues on 240th St. The homeowners spoke at the regular board meeting Feb. 3 about the issues they’ve seen leading the board to take action on the street to improve safety measures going forward.
“We’ve been having nothing but issues on it since we moved there,” said Osceola homeowner Vanessa Clark. “When you turn on 240th St., there are absolutely no speed limit signs besides a curb sign for 35 miles an hour that’s about half the size of half a piece of paper. And coming from the other way heading north on 240th there
SEE TOWN, PAGE 8
Race for Wisconsin education chief lacks traditional conservative candidate
BY JACK KELLY WISCONSIN WATCH
Overshadowed by the state Supreme Court race, the Feb. 18 primary for Wisconsin’s top education official could significantly affect the future of K-12 schools but lacks a candidate with a traditionally conservative background — despite Republican sentiment that voters are trending rightward on education issues.
Three candidates are jostling to be state superintendent of public instruction.
Incumbent Jill Underly, who
was elected in a landslide four years ago, is seeking a second term in the job. She faces two challengers: Jeff Wright, superintendent of the Sauk Prairie School District, and Brittany Kinser, an education consultant from Milwaukee.
The top two vote getters on Feb. 18 will advance to the April 1 general election.
The superintendent leads the state Department of Public Instruction, serving as Wisconsin’s top education official.
A constitutional officer, the superintendent has uniquely
broad authority: Wisconsin is the only state that elects its top education official but lacks a state board of education, according to the conservative Badger Institute. That means whoever leads the department “reports to nobody except the voters every four years.”
Underly drew fire after DPI last summer changed the threshold for what is considered proficient performance on state tests. Republican lawmakers and her opponents accused her of “lowering” standards. She stood by the
changes in an interview, arguing they better reflect what students are learning in Wisconsin classrooms.
Underly has the backing of the Democratic Party of Wisconsin and wants to continue being “the number one advocate for public education in Wisconsin,” she said. To do so, she said she’ll continue to “set the standard” on issues like funding — DPI requested a $4 billion boost in state aid in the state’s next budget — because “this is what our public schools need.”
The state also needs a seasoned leader to grapple with the wave of changes coming out of Washington, Underly argued. “Do (voters) want somebody who has been proven to be able to manage this work?” she said. “Or do they want somebody to come in (that) has no idea what they’re doing and have to build a team and then meanwhile we’re getting bombarded with all these actions from the federal government?”
GRAFFITI: Osceola police hope to discourage continued graffiti
some locals that go there and explore and make their mark, so to speak… It’s far enough removed from Main Street to where most people don’t really notice it. But when we get something like this where it’s big, and bold, and right in downtown, we’re going to see a lot more response from the community.”
However, the continued vandalism at the old Osceola Medical Center could be a cause for the increased activity in the rest of the village, pointing to a criminological theory called the “Broken Windows Theory.”
“It came out in the 1980s and essentially it asserts that when a property is not maintained and it’s left in disrepair it’s more prone to allow or even encourage future criminal activity,” said Bach. “If you think about it, it makes sense. Would someone be more apt to spray paint or vandalize a building that looks like it’s run down, and spray painted, or a brand-new building?
“So, I personally think that with the hospital being close by downtown and with people coming and tagging that and breaking stuff, it draws in a lot of the folks that are apt to do that behav-
New graffiti also recently appeared on the American flag by The
ical Center building could be related because of its current state and
This trend is often referred to as the “Broken Windows Theory.”
ior. It kind of normalizes it to where they might expand as we’ve been seeing downtown.”
Criminal penalties can vary depending on the location and the severity of the graffiti in the Village of Osceola. Because of the location of the most recent graffiti on the bridge, more serious penalties could be a possibility.
“At a minimum, graffiti is a class A misdemeanor, which is the most serious mis-
demeanor,” said Bach. “Otherwise, it being a railroad, it’s considered a highway. However, there are certain criminal elements that we need to prove in order for it to be a felony. The railroad classification expands the definition to where it could be a more serious offense. It all depends on what the purpose of the paint is.”
According to Wisconsin State Statute 943.017 (1), “Whoever intentionally marks, draws or
that any person violating subsection (1) is guilty of a Class 1 Felony if, “The property under sub. (1) is a vehicle or a highway, as defined in s. 943.01 (2) (a) 1., and the marking, drawing, writing or etching is of a kind which is likely to cause injury to a person or further property damage.” Because the bridge in Osceola is considered a highway, there is the possibility that it could be classified as a Class 1 felony depending on the intent or result of the graffiti.
with the rail line. Normally, we usually defer to how much it costs to repair.”
As of Feb 6. the graffiti has been covered with black paint, but the investigation is ongoing. If anyone has information that could be shared in identifying those involved, they are encouraged to contact the Osceola Police Department at 715-294-3628.
writes with paint, ink or another substance on or intentionally etches into the physical property of another without the other person’s consent is guilty of a Class A misdemeanor.” However, subsection (2)(a) reads
“If it’s over $2,500 to repair or if the damage exceeds that, then it’s a felony,” said Bach “Otherwise, if you look at [subsection (2)(a)], it’s going to be a vehicle or a highway and the railroad does qualify as a highway. But then the weird language is that the marking, drawing or writing or etching is of a kind which is likely to cause injury to a person or further property damage. We would have to prove that in order for it to be a felony on its face just by being associated
SUPERINTENDENT:
FROM PAGE 1
“I think that there’s something to be said for a strong incumbent and continuity,” Underly said. Unusually, she faces a challenger from both sides.
Wright, who hails from battleground Sauk County and has twice run for the state Assembly as a Democrat, is stressing his ability to work with both parties. The political action committee of the Wisconsin Education Association Council, the state’s largest teachers union, has recommended supporting Wright, though it has stopped short of a full endorsement. “I don’t have a political establishment with me,” he told CBS58. “But I have a lot of the state’s educators with me.” Wright’s campaign didn’t respond to multiple requests to schedule an interview for this story.
Kinser, meanwhile, is touting her support for school choice programs as she tacks to the right. She has worked as a special education teacher in Chicago during the early 2000s and the principal of a public charter school in Milwaukee and, until January 2024, served as CEO of Milwaukee education nonprofit City Forward Collective.
She has previously called herself a “Blue Dog Democrat” and donated to U.S. Sen. Tammy Baldwin’s 2024 reelection campaign. But last week, she described herself on “The Benjamin Yount Show” as a moderate. “It shouldn’t matter what party we’re in,” she said. “We need to be focusing on teaching our kids how to read, write and do math.” Kinser’s campaign also did not make her available for an interview.
But how can the race lack a clear conservative candidate in 2025 — especially as Republicans feel like voters are trending toward them on education
“Aside from cleaning it up right away, I think that reporting new graffiti, and if we actively enforce it and hold people accountable, I think that’s a big disincentive for folks to do it as well,” said Bach. “Keep us in the loop. That’s what we do. We’re happy to go out and document, collect evidence, and follow up with any leads. And that’s what we’re going to be doing in the meantime... We’re going through our regular investigative process with this and we have a couple leads that we’re looking into.”
State primary election
issues?
The simplest explanation: the stakes of the Wisconsin Supreme Court race, one conservative education reform advocate told Wisconsin Watch.
Recruiting a high-quality candidate to run for statewide office without guarantees of financial support is challenging, said the advocate, who works closely with policymakers and was granted anonymity to offer a candid evaluation of the race. And with the outcome of the court race determining ideological control of the court, Republican donors are focusing their resources elsewhere.
More clear-cut conservative-aligned candidates, like Deb Kerr in 2021 and Lowell Holtz in 2017, have been on the ballot in past cycles. But just because the race lacks a prototypical conservative doesn’t mean conservatives are giving up on it.
Kinser herself has been running to the right as the campaign has picked up. She addressed Republican Party chapters throughout the state and, more recently, on at least two occasions spoke at events alongside conservative state Supreme Court candidate Brad Schimel. That could help give her the political base she needs to advance from the primary, the advocate said.
“If you’re talking about a three-person primary and there’s two lanes, and Underly and Wright are basically fighting over one of the lanes and the other lane is wide open, it makes sense to me to go talk to as many people as you can,” the advocate added.
And just because Kinser isn’t a traditional conservative candidate doesn’t mean she can’t appeal to conservatives, said CJ Szafir, CEO of the Institute for Reforming Government, a conservative think tank. He added that she “is right on all the issues and she’s aligned with conservatives and the conservative base.
“I don’t think there’s any real daylight between what conservatives want in the DPI and what Brittany wants to do at the DPI,” he said. “Brittany’s the one candidate that … is very focused on being pro-child, focused on the core issues and how to overhaul the DPI to better address the concerns of parents.”
MATT ANDERSON | THE SUN
Staple. The old Osceola Med-
proximity to downtown.
Kinser
Underly Wright
FEBRUARY 12, 2025
ONGOING
The Gathering Meets the first and third Friday at 1 p.m. in the Osceola Senior Center. Discuss topics, exchange ideas, share life experiences. For more info: jimihnye@gmail.com
Tai Chi, Qi Gong Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays, 9-10 a.m., in the Osceola Senior Center. Available on Zoom, email rmussell@att.net. 312524-3934.
River Valley Stitchers
River Valley Stitchers meet the second Wednesday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and the second Saturday, 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. in the Osceola Senior Center. Participants bring their own projects to work on. For more info contact mkmcelrath@hotmail. com.
American Legion meeting
American Legion Post 0221 meets every third Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Ken’s Keyboard. For more info: Matt Goldman 952-465-5922.
LEGO Club
LEGO Club at the Wilberg Memorial Public Library of Osceola meets the first and third Thursday of the month at 4 p.m. to build with LEGOs.
Used book sale
The Friends of the Osceola Library used book sale and lots of puzzles, is the first Saturday of each month from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lower level of the Wilberg Memorial Public Library.
Friends of the Library
The Friends of the Osceola Library meets on the fourth Saturday at 10:30 a.m. in the lower level of the Wilberg Memorial Library (Third St. entrance). New members welcome.
Widow Connect
The St. Croix Valley Widow Connect, a subgroup of Widow Might, meets the third Sunday of each month at Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 Seminole Ave, Osceola.
The meeting is from 1-4 pm. https://www.widowmight.org/
MONDAYS
Indianhead Barbershop
The Indianhead Bar-
OUT ABOUT&
bershop Chorus meets Mondays at 7 p.m. at the Justice Center in Balsam Lake. 715-475-7666.
Alcoholics Anonymous Mondays, 7 p.m., at Osceola United Methodist Church.
TUESDAYS
Seniors on the Go Seniors on the Go meet Tuesdays from 12:30 to 4 p.m. for 3-13 cards at the Osceola Senior Center. Exercise classes Free exercise classes for seniors at Osceola Community Church, 2492 Education Ave., 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. For more information: 612751-9151. Learn the Bible
Every Tuesday Osceola Elementary School and Intermediate School students have the opportunity to learn the Bible during specials. An Osceola Community Church van will pick them up and return them on time. Contact the church for van schedule, 715-2944332.
WEDNESDAYS
TOPS meeting
Take Off Pounds Sensibly meets every Wednesday at 8:30 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church, Osceola. For more information: Nancy, 715-553-3998.
AA meetings
AA meets at the St. Croix Falls Alanon Club, 221 S. Adams St., St. Croix Falls, at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. NA meets at 6 p.m.
www.osceolasun.com
THURSDAYS
Adult grief group
St. Croix Chaplaincy offers a free, online grief support group on Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. Find the link to the Zoom meetings at Facebook. com/stcroixchaplaincy. For more information: 651-239-8441 or email StCroixChaplaincy@gmail. com.
Alanon meeting
An Alanon meeting is held at 6 p.m. at the St. Croix Falls Alanon Club, 221 S. Adams St., St. Croix Falls.
Exercise classes
Free exercise classes for seniors at Osceola Community Church, 2492 Education Ave., 9 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. For more information: 612751-9151.
500 Cards
Seniors meet Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. for 500 cards at the Osceola Senior Center.
AA meeting
AA meets at Peace Lutheran Church in Dresser every Thursday at 7 p.m.
FRIDAYS
AA meeting
AA meets at the St. Croix Falls Alanon Club, 221 S. Adams St., St. Croix Falls, at 7 p.m.
Soma Yoga
Soma Yoga meets at 11 a.m. to noon in the Osceola Senior Center. Gentle mindful practice focusing on breathwork, alignment, & finding individual pose variations. Seated in a chair
ST. CROIX FALLS SENIOR CENTER
BY WANDA BROWN
Cards and games each week: Small fee.
Mahjong: Wednesdays at noon.
Bridge: Fridays at 10 a.m.
500: Saturdays at 12:30 p.m.
500 tournament at Unity VFW, Feb. 8, March 8 and April 12.
Zumba: Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8:30
a.m. Core and More: Tuesday and Thursday at 8:30 a.m. Butts and Gutts: Tuesday and Thursday at 4:30 p.m. Challenge yourself with a great strength and toning workout. Bring a mat to class for floor exercise. Small fee for exercise classes.
Sunday morning Church: Living Waters Church All Welcome. 10 a.m. Information or reservation of the Center, call Brad Moore 906-396-2481.
and standing. Bring a mat and water bottle. For more information, 715-417-2765.
SATURDAYS
AA meeting
AA meets at the St. Croix Falls Alanon Club, 221 S. Adams St., St. Croix Falls, at 8 a.m., 10 a.m. and 7 p.m.
SUNDAYS
AA meeting
AA meets at the St. Croix Falls Alanon Club, 221 S. Adams St., St. Croix Falls, at 9 a.m. and 8 p.m.
FEBRUARY 13
St. Croix Health lunch
Quarterly Lunch: Alumni and current employees and volunteers of St. Croix Health, 11 a.m. at the Village Pizzeria in Dresser.
Wellness Night
The second annual Wellness Night will be at Osceola Intermediate School, from 4 p.m. - 6 p.m.
FEBRUARY 15
Spread the Love 5K
The Osceola High School Mental Health Matters Club will be sponsoring the Spread the Love 5K at the Osceola High School at 6 p.m. Race will be inside. For
more information email pattersonc@osceolak12. org.
FEBRUARY 18
Bloodmobile
The American Red Cross will be at Bethesda Lutheran Church, 1947 110th Ave., Dresser, from 12 p.m. - 6 p.m. To donate blood simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767.
FEBRUARY 19
Bloodmobile
The American Red Cross will be at Osceola High School, 1111 Oak Ridge Dr., from 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. To donate blood simply download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800733-2767.
FEBRUARY 20
THE OPEN CUPBOARD
History of the St. Croix Tribe
A presentation of the culture and history of the St. Croix Tribe by Wanda McFaggen, the Tribal Historic Preservation Officer for the St. Croix Chippewa Indians of Wisconsin, will be in the large meeting room across the hall from the Wilberg Memorial Public library at 6 p.m.
FEBRUARY 24 -
MARCH 31
Choir practice
Both men and women singers are welcome to sing at the Annual Indianhead Chorus Gospel Concert. Please come to practice at the Polk County Courthouse Community room (1005 W Main St, Balsam Lake, WI) on Mondays at 7 p.m. The concert will be at Luck Lutheran Church on April 6. For more information, 715483-9202.
Items needed at Osceola’s food pantry:
Butter and eggs
Items can be dropped off during business hours Monday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 12 p.m., Thursday, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. After hours donations can be left in the black bin in front of the building at 406 2nd Ave.
2. The decedent, with date of birth August 9, 1936, and date of death Dec. 4, 2024, was domiciled in Polk County, State of Wisconsin, with a mailing address of 201 99th Avenue, Clayton, Wisconsin 54004.
3. All interested persons waived notice.
4. The deadline for filing a claim against the decedent’s estate is May 13, 2025.
5. A claim may be filed at the Polk County Courthouse, 1005 W. Main Street, Balsam Lake, Wisconsin, Room 500. By the court: Cheryl Winberg Probate Registrar January 28, 2025
Robert L. Loberg Loberg Law Office, LLP
359 W. Main St. Ellsworth, WI 54011
715-273-5072
Bar #1017505
OPINION
www.osceolasun.com
The Prodigal Sock
When I was a child attending religion education classes, one of the parables that I struggled with was the tale of the prodigal son.
You know the story. One of two sons wants his inheritance up front so he can see the world and not be tied down to the farm. His father gives him the money. The other brother does his duty and the hard work on the farm. After years, the prodigal son returns penniless.
Tom Stangl
The father wants a celebration, but the other brother is not pleased. He questions the celebration for the wayward brother. The father explains they must celebrate because he returned to them, and both brothers are loved.
There’s a similar parable about one lost sheep and the lengths the shepherd goes to for its return. My parents had a painting of Jesus holding a lamb among a flock of lambs. I assume the lamb being held was the lost lamb. Man, that lamb had a wide smile on its face.
I was recently thinking about lost lambs and prodigal sons when I was doing the laundry. Yes, I do laundry; it is part of my contribution to the household.
One of the things I really dislike about laundry is socks. Finding and matching socks is something I usually leave until the end of the laundry basket. When you have a couple dozen black socks that are slightly different from each other, a chore becomes like a jigsaw puzzle of a polar bear in a blizzard.
And socks always seem to find a way to escape.
Jerry Seinfeld did a bit about the washing machine being “party central” for clothing. They got to mingle and move around. He also did a bit about a sock hiding in the dryer, waiting to make its getaway and be “free.” It was funny.
Every now and then, it seems like a sock does indeed make its getaway.
When I am matching socks, my mind wanders. I was thinking about the different mail-order catalogs my mother received. She was on about every mailing list: J.C. Penney, Sears, Montgomery Ward, Lillian Vernon, Fingerhut – you name it, Mary Stangl was on the list. She bought some items through the mail, so we received the catalogs.
Lillian Vernon had all sorts of items that old people might want: lighted magnifying glasses, gadgets to help you grab items on the top shelf, organizers for your couch so you had a place for your TV Guide and remote control, pet supplies –you name it, they had it.
When I was a child, it was fun to look at the catalogs and make fun of the pathetic old people who bought these items. How awful it must be to be old and need these gadgets!
One of the items I recall was a small plastic circle with tabs inside. You would pull your two socks through the slots so the pair could not be separated during the washing and drying process. It was handcuffs for those pesky socks that wanted to make a break for it on laundry day.
I wondered if they still made those things. Turns out they do and Lillian Vernon is still in business.
I also found a prodigal sock that had been missing for months. But I don’t remember where I put its mate…
Maybe I will buy some of those sock handcuffs. As always, I welcome your comments. You can reach me by email at tstangl@theameryfreepress. com, telephone 715-268-8101 or write me at P.O. Box 424, Amery, WI, 54001. Thanks for reading. I’ll keep in touch. Feel free to do the same.
THE SUN
For a long time, I’ve considered myself a pessimist. I wasn’t always that way, but the more years go by, the more unfortunate things push me toward pessimism. Believe me, I don’t enjoy it even if it lends to being practical. But every now and then, I try to let a little bit of optimism sneak in here and there.
sink to the bottom of the lake at ice out.
Editor
Matt Anderson
During this last snowfall, I found myself on the ice in the middle of it. You just can’t keep me away from fishing no matter the conditions. But lots of snow can cause some issues on the ice. Namely, missing gear. When you drop something in enough snow, you better know where you dropped it immediately. Otherwise, it’ll get swallowed up in a sea of white powder, never to be seen again until it melts away in the spring. By that time, it’s almost always gone, left to another lucky angler to find, or to
Letters to the Editor are published with priority given to letters that are concise (400 words or less) and exclusive to our newspaper, from readers in our general distribution area. All letters are subject to editing for grammar and clarity and must contain the undersigned’s full name and their address and daytime telephone number for verification. (Addresses and phone numbers will not be printed.)
My outing was full of great luck. First, I broke the tip of an expensive rod. I was bummed, but it happens to the best of us. And technically, it can be fixed. But when I was packing up to head home, I realized I was missing another rod. Now I was upset. I can deal with an accidental breakage, but losing another costly rod due to my own negligence got to me.
When you’re a diehard angler, you get really particular about your rods. Many of us fishing nuts buy technique specific rods dedicated to one lure category to optimize the action of the lure, hook-up to land ratio, and other things. And we tend to buy increasingly more expensive rods for weight reduction, sensitivity and a good crisp action. The rod I was missing is dedicated for fishing a bait called a pinhead, which is easily one of the best baits in ice fishing. Not to mention, it was expensive.
I had drilled out a couple dozen holes covering hundreds of feet, so other than my footsteps in the
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snow helping me retrace my steps the odds were not in my favor, and I had to leave within a half hour or so. I kicked around each hole with the time I had left before I accepted defeat and headed home. The next morning, I couldn’t get that rod off my mind. The pessimist in me said there was no chance I would find it. There was also a truck that pulled up briefly on the same spot before driving off. The pessimist in me also said he might have seen my rod and snagged it without a second thought. Still, I decided I was going to grab my snow shovel and throw a “Hail Mary.”
I drove out to the lake and started digging, and digging, and digging to no avail. That same pessimist in me told me me how much of a moron I was for dropping that rod, that the guy in the truck grabbed it, and that even if he didn’t, I’d never find it in a sea of snow. But I kept digging anyway.
Then I thought of a new strategy. Rather than beat myself up
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Publisher
YEARS AGO
Love isn’t just shades of red— it’s black and white too! This Valentine’s Day, find your perfect match with one of our adorable tuxedo or black-and-white cats. They’re dressed for the occasion and ready to love you fur-ever! Meet our Pets of the Week: Tux, Velvet, Erik, and Christine—four fantastic felines waiting for their forever homes.
Erik and Christine, both 9 months old, were named after the iconic characters from Phantom of the Opera, and just like their namesakes, they share a special bond. These two would love to find a home together where they can continue their not-so-dramatic (but very adorable) story as siblings. Tux and Velvet, at 6 months old, aren’t officially bonded, but truly flourish with feline companionship and would do best in a home with another playful cat.
If you’re looking for a canine companion, we have some amazing dogs eager to meet you! Petey, a 6-month-old cattle dog mix, is ready to be your most loyal
Traveling with Felix
Our cat, Felix, has turned into an excellent little traveler.
“What do you do with your cat?” we are invariably asked when we tell people we are headed off to Mexico to spend the second half of the winter.
“Oh! Felix is from Mexico,” my husband, Peter, tells them. “He’s just coming back with us!” And it is true. Felix enjoys his international status.
We worried, when we first brought him from our tiny apartment in Mexico, that he would feel lost and afraid in our much larger condo in the U.S.
To our surprise, Felix loved it.
Felix learned that if he got up enough traction in the carpeted bedroom, he could skid down the polished wooden floors in the hall, zoom across the living room, ricochet off the wall and land on the couch, all in a matter of seconds. Our entire condo became a giant cat racecourse.
“Oh,” Peter then said, “he’s never going to be happy going back to that little apartment in Mexico!”
On the contrary, Felix was over-the-moon to discover that he
sidekick. Blizzard, a 7-monthold Border Collie/Aussie mix, is super intelligent and looking for an active home where he can put his smarts to good use. Copper, a 1-year-old mystery mix, is learning his manners and is already proving to be a quick study! Not a dog person? No problem! We have plenty of fabulous felines
knew exactly where he was when we returned to our little Mexican apartment. He jumped up on his little brushing table (aka the coffee table) and demanded an immediate brushing. He seems to like that Peter and I are forced to be in the same room all the time, and he can sit between us on the couch and keep an eye on us at all times.
Felix also loves Lulu, who comes to clean our apartment twice a week. She plays with him and speaks Spanish to him while she cleans. And he is constantly occupied by the guests and employees coming up and down the stairs outside the screen door of our apartment. They are all very interesting and a little scary (except Lulu), so he watches through the screen and dashes away whenever they get too close, only to come out and spy again as soon as they have passed.
And traveling back and forth with Felix is not bad either.
I had been out of the cat-owning business for a while and was amazed to see how many new options in cat carriers were available.
We ended up with a kitty backpack that I wear with Felix in front. The entire front wall of it is curved plastic, so Felix can watch everything, and I have both hands free for luggage and tickets.
ready to steal your heart. Olive, a sweet 5-year-old Caliby, loves attention and snuggles. Henry, a mischievous 3-year-old brown tabby, will keep you entertained with his playful antics. We would love to play matchmaker and help you find your perfect furry Valentine! Stop in during our regular business hours: Weekdays from 12 PM - 5 PM and Saturdays from 12 PM - 4 PM. You can find us at 185 Griffin St E in Amery, or give us a call at (715) 268-PETS (7387) during the above-mentioned hours. Be sure to check out our Facebook page and visit arnellhumane.org to see all of our adoptable pets & upcoming events.
Correction from Last Week: We want to clarify that the Meat Raffle benefiting AMHS at The Cascade Bar & Grill will be held on Feb. 15 at 1 p.m. We appreciate everyone who comes out to support our shelter pets! The Cascade Bar & Grill is located at 110 N Cascade St in Osceola, and we hope to see you there!
The first day I went out walking with it, a couple of small girls called out, “Taylor Swift!”
Since I knew that, unfortunately, I bear no resemblance to Ms. Swift, I googled when I got home and learned that Ms. Swift often travels with one of her cats and has popularized the cat backpack with the domed plastic window. The little girls who spotted Felix in his carrier knew this, and I certainly felt a lot cooler and more au courant once I did.
It is fun traveling with Felix. People in both countries are pleased to see him, a black-andwhite ambassador to and from the U.S. and Mexico. He is welcomed by children in both English and Spanish who call out either “Gatito!” or “Kitty!” and he seems quite content with his jet-setting lifestyle.
If the inconveniences of travel ever start to make me anxious or annoyed, I look at Felix, watching the world like a minor celebrity through the window of his Taylor Swift carrier. I’m sure he doesn’t know what will happen next, but like every good mini-celebrity, he is always open to the next adventure.
Till next time,
Carrie
To see photos, check out CarrieClassonAuthor on Facebook or visit CarrieClasson.com.
20 years ago Feb. 9, 2005
• The Osceola High School Marching Chiefs marched their way to first place Jan. 29 at the St. Paul Winter Carnival Grande Day Parade.
• The 2005 National Masters Cross Country ski race was moved from St. Paul to Trollhaugen because of lack of snow. Tom Krenz of Osceola finished fourth in his age group.
• David Huebel purchased Cascade Flooring from John LaMere on Feb. 1.
• As part of their year-long victory tours, Miss Osceola Megan Annis-Steffen and Miss St. Croix Falls Abbe Paulhe attended events at the St. Paul Winter Carnival.
• Monies raised during the Osceola Medical Center Auxiliary Love Light Tree program were used to purchase a fetal heart monitor for the OB department.
• St. Croix Valley honor band members from Osceola High School were Ben Schulte, Abby Videen, Thalia Laier, Jordan Mederich, Peter Wells, Lindsey Peterson, Gregg Kroening, Todd Jasperson, Preston Langer, Kevin McCusker, Cole Johnson and Shannon Tomfohrde.
• High academic achievers at St. Croix Falls High School included Jack Werner, Erinn Bloomer, Danielle Spengler, Dan Martinson, Willy Kalmoe, Elise Pfaltzgraff and Emily Pfaltzgraff.
• Osceola and St. Croix Falls wrestlers finished second at their conference tournaments.
30 years ago Feb. 8, 1995
• Wayne Vanek of Dresser helped set up and run a chemical dependency program in Sweden.
• Dresser Driftbusters snowmobile club celebrated their 25th anniversary.
• More than 250 parents, students and district staff were on hand for the annual Osceola Middle School honor roll breakfast.
• Children in Early Childhood toured the kitchen of the Village Pizzeria and sampled the pizza, too.
• Sherman Steffen, Shane Meyer, Matthew Miller, Jacob Cox, Kevin Fritsche and Matt
Bader received the “Children of God” award, a Catholic medal of achievement in Scouting.
• Osceola Middle School wrestling finished its season strong. The combined team record was 156 wins and 91 loses. Top five records were Terry Neumann, 22-1; Eric Randall, 21-5; Nathan Taylor, 16-4; Kasey Shoquist, 16-7; and Shawn Kammerud, 17-8.
• Doug Wright and Al Annunziata placed first in the Open Scotch 8-Ball Tournament at Cascade Bar Jan. 28.
• Chris Handrahan of Osceola hit the $100 half court shot during the Hot Shot competition held during half time at Friday’s basketball game.
40 years ago Feb. 12, 1985
• The Osceola Historic Sites Committee was busy trying to get two structures listed on the National Register of Historic Places: the AA Heald House at 202 6th Avenue and the Geiger building/old Polk County Courthouse, 201 Cascade Street.
• A broken water main turned the building owned by Robert Schaber on Osceola main street into the Cascade Falls annex. Extensive water damage was incurred to living quarters in the basement level. Two businesses on the main floor received no damage.
• Osceola Food-N-Fuel was closed Feb. 7 due to a gas leak in their unleaded fuel tank.
• Teri Casey and Doug Kromrey announced their engagement. An April 12 wedding was planned.
• Sue Gerlach of Dresser was named to the Dean’s List at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire.
• Art Gross and Bernetta Engels were married Nov. 2 at St. Joseph’s Church in Osceola.
• The Osceola wrestling team was named Class C Regional champions. Individual winners were Ron Swanson, Doug Toenjes, Terry Steffen, Sam Steffen and Randy Nykanen.
• Osceola boys basketball was assured of at least a tie for first place in the conference after beating Unity 47-29 and St. Croix Falls 57-56.
• Osceola girls basketball won the second game of the season, 35-25, against Unity.
GOVERNMENT NUMBERS WHO TO CALL...
President Donald Trump 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW • Washington, D.C. 20500 Comments: (202) 456-1111 or comments@whitehouse.gov http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/ Switchboard: (202) 456-1414
Congressman Tom Tiffany 7th Congressional District 1714 Longworth HOB, Washington, DC 20515 • (202) 225-3365
U.S. Senator Ronald H. Johnson 328 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, DC 20515 • (202) 224-5323 www.ronjohnson.senate.gov
U.S. Senator Tammy Baldwin 7 Hart Senate Office Building Washington, D.C. 20510 • (202) 224-5653 • (715) 832-8424 www.baldwin.senate.gov/contact
Governor Tony Evers 5 East, State Capitol Bldg. Mailing address: P.O. Box 7863, Madison, WI 53707 EversInfo@wisconsin.gov • www.evers.wis.gov
Rep. Duke Tucker 75th Assembly District P.O. Box 8953 • Madison, WI 53708-8953 (608) 237-9175 or 1-888-534-0075 Rep.Tucker@legis.wisconsin.gov
Senator Rob Stafsholt 10th Senate District Room 15 So., State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 • Madison, WI 53708 (608) 266-7745 Sen.Stafsholt@legis.wisconsin.gov NO CALL LIST 1-888-382-22 or website: datcp.wi.gov
Dr. Carla Hauge
Dr. Thomas Hauge
Dr. Jordan Dittberner
Dr. Taylor Lundquist
Dr. Janae Momchilovich
TO THE EDITOR
End times
The most recent Meditation in the Sun starts with the doom and gloom found in the Bible describing the Last Days. That is not a bad start for a Christian homily. The hoped for assurance would be not to fear because God uplifts all His people. However, the focus shifts to the new US President. Rather than referring to what Romans 13 and I Peter 2 spell as the reasons for government, i.e. peace plus law and order. Instead, the Meditation implies that the new President does harm to those in dire need.
The Meditation listed no specifics – just generalities about the helpless. Nobody can read that far and not sense that the reference is to illegal aliens. This indirectly slams our voters who reacted to what has happened due to the U.S. border crisis. Drugs, sexual assaults, killings, and larcenies came from hundreds of thousands of illegal entry felons. The new President has made no moves against this country’s legal citizens that the Meditation cites. So, to hearken to the audience with the Lord’s ‘Love your neighbor’ mention seems
hollow. The Meditation then quotes Bishop Marianne Budde who said to the new President, ‘…I ask you to have mercy upon the people of this country who are scared.’ These people were not specifically designated. If she means the voters, she is totally wrong; they are hopeful. If she means illegal aliens, they really are not the ‘people of this country’ who entered legitimately. Will our new President try to limit the amount spent on social programs? Is that the scare factor? Well, we now spend over 60 percent of our federal budget on social programs. Welfarism deadens a society when it overreaches. We are there now. What exemplifies a good meditation of this sort? Permit me to suggest that using a referral to the Gospel be the primary purpose. In I Corinthians 15, Paul states, ‘I delivered to you first of all that Christ died for our sins…’ Then present a relevant application. The sort of inexplicit discussion shown in that Meditation is off target.
Doug Wellumson Osceola
“To kindness and love, the things we need most!” ~ The Grinch
During Valentine’s Day week, we naturally celebrate love—whether through cards, gifts, special meals, or simply showing extra kindness to those we care about. But why stop there? This week is also the perfect opportunity to extend that kindness beyond our close circle and participate in Random Acts of Kindness Day on Monday, February 17.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation encourages us to make kindness a priority—not just for one day, but as a daily practice. True kindness includes patience, honesty, generosity, and being a good listener. Most importantly, kindness is freely given without expecting anything in return. Even small gestures can make a significant difference in someone’s day.
Here are free or lowcost ways to spread kindness in your community:
Sharing a smile—it’s simple, but powerful.
Leave a kind note for someone—no explanation needed.
Offer words of encouragement—you never know who might need them.
Use your skills to help others—volunteer for a nonprofit or assist a neighbor.
TOWN OF OSCEOLA
Send a “thinking of you” card to someone you haven’t spoken to in a while.
Write a thank-you note to first responders, teachers, or military personnel.
Support your local library—donate books (get the library’s permission, of course), share a positive review, simply visit the library, or encourage a friend to get a library card!
Libraries embody kindness every day by providing free resources, safe spaces, and welcoming communities for all. Whether you’re looking for books on kindness, volunteer opportunities, or a quiet place to reflect, your library is here for you.
Even the Grinch was transformed by kindness because, as Aesop wisely said, “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Visit your library today and spread a little kindness—it’s contagious!
Geraldine E. Anderson Village Library, Dresser Phone: 715-755-2944, email: dresserpl@ dresserpubliclibrary.org, web: https://dresserpubliclibrary.org, or find us on Facebook.
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 10-7, Tuesday and Friday 10-5, Saturday 10-1.
Outdoor book return open 24/7 at the blue box. Wi-Fi: Free 24/7 near the library. Computers, printing, copies, etc. Call or email for special needs or assistance.
Small meeting room for your Zoom calls, etc. —Check-in with your library card. Call us with any special assistance needs.
Family Story Time: Every second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m.
WISCONSIN YARD & GARDEN
Soil origin and development
Soils are the foundation of gardens and landscapes, featuring characteristics that vary among locations in Wisconsin. Success when growing plants is very closely related to soil conditions, which are a result of numerous factors that started as far back as the ice age.
Columnist
Soil formation processes begin with parent material, which eventually transforms into what we recognize as soil. With just a couple of exceptions, parent material consists of some form of rocks, varying in size from boulders to smaller than
at the Library. Suitable for a wide range of ages. Preschool -Kindergarten will most benefit. Check our website, Facebook, or call for more information on programming.
St. Croix Falls Public Library Phone: 715-483-1777, email: scflibrary@scfpl. org, web: https://www. scfpl.org, Facebook too.
Hours/Services: M-F 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat 9:30 a.m. - 1 p.m. 24/7 After Hours Locker Pick-up - To schedule –call 715-483-1777 or email scflibrary@scfpl.org
Book Return: 24/7 through the return slot near the main entrance. Free Wi-Fi 24/7 near the library. Computers, printing, faxing, copies, etc. Call or email for special needs or assistance.
Knit and Crochet Group, every second Monday of each month from 6-8 p.m. Come and stitch with us. Bring your project or start a new one.
Winter Storytime, every Wednesday, through Feb. 19 at 10:15 a.m. Workshop Series from January-June 2025 - free! Workshops include a variety of activities. Feb. 22, 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. and Feb. 23, 1 p.m. to 2 :30 p.m. The last Wednesday of each month will be story time yoga with Yogilee and Elham. Check our website, Face Book, or call for more information on programming.
Wilberg Memorial Public Library of Osceola
Phone: 715-294-2310, email: osceolapl@osceola-
publiclibrary.org, web: www.osceolapubliclibrary.org, or find us on Facebook.
Hours: Monday-Friday 9 a.m.-6 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m-1 p.m. Please call us if you need special assistance to pick up your holds.
Book Return: 24/7 at drop box near drive thru window.
Free Wi-Fi 24/7.
Follow our Facebook page or website for details.
Join us for the magic of story time – where books come alive! Storytime Tuesdays at 10:30 a.m. LEGO Club – first and third Thursdays of the month at 4 p.m.
Get Lit - The Library Book Club that meets at the Cascade Bar & Grill - first Tuesday of the month at 6 p.m. Pick up a copy of the book from the library.
Lunch with a Librarian. Bring your lunch to the library to chat about books, movies, or anything else library related. first and third Monday of the month at 12:30 p.m.
Adult Winter Reading Program through March 31. Read, watch, or participate to earn entries into the prize drawing. Stop into the library for more details.
WMPL Book Discussion - fourth Wednesday of the month at 6 p.m. at the library. Get a copy of the book from the library.
A Cultural Conversation - The St. Croix Chippewa of Wisconsin - Feb. 20, 6 p.m. in the large meeting room across the hall from the library.
sand, left in place after activity of glaciers, water, wind, or gravity. Glacial deposits are the prevalent parent material throughout Wisconsin, as are flood deposits, ancient lakes that dried up, and windblown silt deposits known as loess.
Once parent material is in place, the lengthy process of soil formation begins. Rock needs to be broken down to soil particles known as sand (largest size), silt, and clay (smallest size). This is achieved through both physical and chemical weathering processes. Physical weathering includes action of water, wind, and freezing/thawing cycles breaking larger rock into smaller and smaller pieces. Chemical weathering involves countless reactions including water and acids reacting with the chemistry of rock materials.
Once plant and animal life become involved with weathering parent materials, soil development processes are accelerated. As time moves on, layers called horizons develop, the result of compounds accumulating or disappearing as water moves through soils. Topography, vegetation, and precipitation all influence horizon development.
Starting at the surface is the A horizon, typically biologically active, fertile, and best for plant growth. SEE GARDEN, PAGE 7
Bruce Spangenberg
OBITUARIES
Wayne D. Hamann
Wayne D. Hamann died after a valiant fight with cancer with his devoted wife by his side. He was 85. He was the son of Sarah Lois and Milton Hamann, and born Oct. 4, 1939, in Jeffers, Minn. He graduated from South St. Paul High School.
Wayne met the love of his life Karen on a blind date, and they were married for 66 years. He worked at Waldorf Paper Company for more than 40 years. The couple moved to Lindstrom, Minn., where they raised their five children. Upon retirement they moved to Osceola.
Wayne served on the board of the Osceola Rod & Gun Club for 20 years. He enjoyed spending time hunting, snowmobiling, and trap shooting. He was a jack of all trades, including woodworking. He could build anything from a bird house to a home. He could fix almost anything. If it broke, he would fix it! He had a passion for cutting grass and relocating the occasional unlucky squirrel, gopher or rabbit that invaded his yard. On his down time, he spent hours watching birds in the feeder. Wayne loved his three grandchildren and enjoyed spending time with them over a large bonfire and shooting off fireworks. The louder the better! Wayne loved to spoil his fur babies, Jake and Tuffy, who were always by his side cruising the countryside in the Ranger.
Wayne was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Janice Fritz; son, Scott Hamann; granddaughter, Kimberly Hamann; and loving fur baby, Gus. Wayne is survived by his loving wife, Karen Hamann; sister, Wanda Rensberg; four children, Clay Hamann, Kelly Hamann, Robyn Wampler, James Hamann; three grandchildren, Sarah Wampler, Corteney Hamann, and Elizabeth Wampler.
A celebration of life will be Feb. 15 at 11 a.m. at Grandstrand Funeral Home, Osceola, with a visitation one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.
Arrangements are with the Grandstrand Funeral Home. Condolences may be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com.
Charles Russell Jensen
Charles Russell Jensen died Feb. 4, 2025, at the Amery Hospital. He was 81.
Charles was born in St. Croix Falls to parents Russel and Mildred (Lee) Jensen. He helped his dad and mom raise mink, as well as farm with horses. Charles loved the outdoors and loved to work. He spent many years as a union plumber out of Local 34 in St. Paul. He also owned a mechanic shop and multiple other entrepreneurial businesses.
He loved to make wood for home heating and to work with his skidster, dump truck, and backhoe. Many landscapes and driveways were shaped by his keen eye. He was an avid hunter (deer, elk, moose and all kinds of birds) and loved fishing in the St. Croix River and to travel up to the family land and cabin at Lake Onaman in Ontario, Canada. He enjoyed traveling with his wife, Carol, antique furniture and cars. He loved to visit and “make a long story short.”
But what he loved most was his family. He was loved and will dearly be missed by all. He was a great husband, father, grandpa, great-grandpa, brother-in-law and uncle.
He was preceded in death by his mother and father and sister Barbara (Jensen) Creuzer. He is survived by his wife of 42 years, Carol Jensen (Doucette); son, David Jensen; daughters, Lori Harvey and Kathy (Joe) Thompson; grandsons, Russell, Patrick and James Jensen, and Joe L. Thompson; granddaughters, Cindy (Justin) Morris, Jessica (Anthony Dueholm) Thompson, Ariel (Josh) Flug, and Tearran (Andrew) Hess; 12 great-grandchildren; numerous brother and sister-in-laws; and cherished nephews and nieces.
Funeral services for Charles will be Feb. 13 at 11 a.m. at the Alliance Church of the Valley in St. Croix Falls. Visitation two hours prior. Burial to follow at the St. Croix Falls Cemetery, in St. Croix Falls. Arrangements with Grandstrand Funeral Home of Osceola. Condolences can be expressed online at www.grandstrandfh.com
WEEKLY MEDITATION
Let God’s Word dwell in you richly
BY DAVE ROSENOW TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH
Colossians 3:16 - “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, singing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, with gratitude in your hearts to God.” (EHV)
Imagine that you ordered a triple chocolate lover’s delight brownie at your favorite restaurant. After the waitress brings it to you, you can’t believe what you’re seeing. It’s chocolate, on top of chocolate, on top of more chocolate - perfect. So, you start eating, but it doesn’t take very long before you have to admit … “Sorry, but I can’t finish that brownie dessert. It’s just too rich for me.”
How would you describe your unfinished dessert? Loaded with chocolate? Thoroughly full of chocolate? Oozing chocolate in every direction? The most chocolatey thing I have ever seen or tasted? In summary, at the very least you’d have to say, “That dessert is very rich in chocolate.” What does the LORD have in mind for us, when He says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly?” He wants us to be “triple chocolate-lover brownie” rich in His Word. He
wants our minds to be loaded with the Word. He wants our hearts to be thoroughly full of the Word. He wants us to be oozing the Word in every direction, applying it to every life situation, so that we are calm during times of turmoil, and humble during times of blessing. One of the best compliments we could receive from anyone would be, “That person is very rich in God’s Word.”
In order to really be rich in the Word, we do more than just memorize it. The Word dwells in us. We cherish it. We listen to it. We live it. It’s not that we change the Word to fit what we want; it’s that the Word changes us, and we become what God wants us to be. It’s not that we ignore the uncomfortable chapters of the Word; it’s that we listen patiently, that we are brave to admonish one another gently, and that we ask the LORD for wisdom as we strive to understand and obey His Word. When the word of Christ is dwelling in us richly, there can only be one outcome - deep gratitude to God. We know that God is our guardian and protector, so as we continue to forge ahead in our lives, we are eagerly anticipating everything God has in store for us. Nevertheless, there are still many questions that continue to swirl
SEE MEDITATION, PAGE 8
ALLIANCE CHURCH OF THE VALLEY
59 Hwy. 35 South, St. Croix Falls 715-483-00
www.stcroixalliance.com
Lead Pastor Jeff Naegelen
Co-Lead Pastor Chris Folkestad
ASSUMPTION OF THE
BLESSED VIRGIN MARY
CATHOLIC CHURCH
East Farmington
Rev. Joseph Madanu
BETHANY LUTHERAN Star Prairie
Pastor Dan Pennington (715) 248-3730
blcsp@frontiernet.net
BETHESDA LUTHERAN LCMC
1947 0th Ave. Dresser Sand Lake 715-755-2562
www.bethesdalutheran.ws
Pastor Peter Rimmereid
Associate Pastor Scott Adkins
CEDARBEND CHURCH
P.O. BOX 414, Osceola Matt Hayton
connect@cedarbendchurch.com
SUNDAY: Worship, 10:30 a.m., 373
280th St., Osceola, (old Neuroscience building).
CHRIST LUTHERAN CHURCH
150 Fifth Street
Marine on St. Croix, Minn.
Pastor Joel Martin 651-433-3222
EL SALEM/TWIN FALLS
CHRISTIAN CENTER
Six miles east of Dresser on
Co. Rd. F, 1751 100th Ave. Pastor Darryl R. Olson 715-755-33
EUREKA BAPTIST CHURCH 2393 210th Ave., St. Croix Falls Pastor Seth Brickley 715-483-9464
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 661A West Street Taylors Falls, MN 55084 651-465-6792 www.firstbaptisttaylorsfalls.com
Dr. Kevin Schumann, Pastor
FIRST EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN 561 Chestnut St. Taylors Falls, Minn.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN 719 Nevada St. St. Croix Falls Reverend David Maghakian 715-483-3550 (office)
GRACE CHURCH Pastor Mark Barlow 722 Seminole Ave. Osceola 715-417-8594 gracechurchosceola.com
GRACE BEREAN FELLOWSHIP 421 4th Street, Centuria Duane Gallentine, Pastor 715-755-2523
FRIDAY and SUNDAY KJV Bible Study/Fellowship
GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH Nye Area/Wisconsin Synod 28 70th Avenue Pastor Jim Bourman
HOLY CROSS ORTHODOX
CHRISTIAN CHURCH
Meeting at Zion Lutheran Church 28005 Old Towne Road Chisago Lakes, Minn. 651-260-5100 www.holyx.net
Fr. Bill Neumann, pastor
HOLY TRINITY
ORTHODOX CHURCH 523 First Street, Clayton 715-948-2203 Father Christopher Wojcik
HOPE EVANGELICAL FREE CHURCH 933 248th Street, one mile north of Osceola on Highway 35 Pastor Neil Schindler 715-294-21 • www.hefc.org
JOURNEY CHURCH
131 Broadway, Amery www.journeychurch.city office@journeychurch.city 715-268-2223
NEW LIFE
CHRISTIAN COMMUNITY
Non-denominational 201 State Hwy. 35, Dresser Pastor Tony Minell, 715-417-1982 galatiansii20@yahoo.com Church office: 715-417-45
OSCEOLA
COMMUNITY CHURCH 2492 Education Drive, Osceola Pastor Josiah Williams www.occnow.org
and industries.
sponsor please call 715-294-2314. These Church listings are
If you would like to be a
OSCEOLA MEDICAL CENTER SPIRITUAL CARE 2600 65th Avenue, Osceola https: myomc.org/wellness/ spiritual-care 715-294-21 Chapel open daily for meditation.
OSCEOLA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH 306 River Street, Osceola P.O. Box 447 Pastor Jack Starr 715-755-2275 osceolaunitedmethodistchurch@gmail.com
PEACE LUTHERAN CHURCH (ELCA), 2355 Clark Rd., Dresser 715-755-2515 • plcdresser.org plcdresseroffice@gmail.com
Pastor Melissa Carmack Find us on Facebook. Live steam YouTube. Sundays 9 a.m.
PRAIRIEVIEW COVENANT CHURCH OF NEW RICHMOND 1396 210th Ave. 2 miles north of New Richmond on Hwy. 65 Pastor Rudy King 715-248-0600
REDEEMER EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN CHURCH Wisconsin Synod Corner of Adams & Louisiana St. Croix Falls Rev. Timothy Blauert 715-483-3401
ST. ANNE PARISH 139 Church Hill Road Somerset, WI 54025 715-247-3310 Rev. Joseph Madanu
ST. CROIX FALLS UNITED METHODIST CHURCH Upper St. Croix Parish 300 North Adams Street St. Croix Falls 715-483-9494 churches@centurytel.net umstcroixfallswolfcreek.org
Pastor Jenny Lee
ST. CROIX UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP 201 N. Adams, St. Croix Falls www.scuuf.org Rev. Terri Burnor
ST. FRANCIS XAVIER CATHOLIC CHURCH Franconia, MN 651-465-7345 www.stfrancisfranconia.org Fr. John Drees
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC Osceola Rev. Joseph Madanu 715-294-2243
ST. JOSEPH’S CATHOLIC 490 Bench Street Taylors Falls, Minnesota 651-465-7345 www.stjosephtaylorsfalls.org Fr. John Drees
RIVER VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE 89 160th Street St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 715-483-5378 Pastor Jonah Fetzer
SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD 140 Madison Street St. Croix Falls Pastor Mark Schoen 715-483-86
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH TAYLORS FALLS Rev. Tom Ervasti 651-242-6046 Sunday services at 10 a.m.
TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) 300 Seminole Ave., (Ct H M) Osceola 715-294-2828
FROM PAGE 7
in our minds - questions like: When are things going to get back to normal? Will we be sick or healthy in the days to come? Will our loved ones be safe? Will we be able to return to stability in our daily lives?
As we think about all of the possibilities in the coming months, we’re reminded that God always watches
over us, and walks with us throughout life’s journey - just like an earthly father watches over and cares for his children. We’re thankful that as God’s dearly loved children, not only will we receive the physical blessings which we need to survive, but we’ll also receive the spiritual inheritance that He has graciously prepared for us - the inheritance of eternal life with Him.
So, confident that the LORD will continue to guide us, and to protect us from all harm and danger, we will continue to keep His Word at the center of our lives. May the Word of Christ dwell in us richly - even more richly than chocolate dwells in a triple chocolate-lover’s delight brownie! And may we always be thoroughly thankful, as we ponder everything which God has done for us.
ANDERSON: I’ll consider optimism
FROM PAGE 4
and succumb to pessimism, I thought I’d let a little bit of hope into the equation. The pessimist in me scoffed. But I had nothing to lose at that point. I told myself, “I’m going to find this rod.” All while digging, and digging, and digging more.
I had shoveled probably 7/8’s of the area I fished without so much as a smidge of hope that I would find it. “I’m going to find this rod”
STATE OF WISCONSIN DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
PUBLIC NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY OF A NUTRIENT MANAGEMENT PLAN AND INTENT TO REISSUE A WISCONSIN POLLUTANT DISCHARGE ELIMINATION SYSTEM (WPDES) PERMIT No. WI-0058939-04-0
Permittee: Ulrich Farms Inc, 950 180th Street, Dresser, WI, 54009
Facility Where Discharge Occurs: Ulrich Farms Inc, 950 180th Street Dresser
Receiving Water and Location: Surface water and groundwater within the Horse Creek and Apple River Watersheds
Brief Facility Description : Ulrich Farms is an existing Concentrated Animal Feeding Operation (CAFO) dairy farm owned and operated by Jake, Corey, and Justin Ulrich. The farm is located in Polk County within Garfield Township and has been a permitted CAFO since 1998. The farm operates with approximately 1,529 dairy cows, 423 heifers, and 340 calves for a total of 2,550 animal units. The farm is not proposing an increase in herd size during the next five-year permit term.
The farm consists of four cow barns, three young heifer/calf barns, outdoor heifer lot, sand settling lane, solid stacking pad, milking center, feed stacking pad, and two waste storage lagoons.
It is estimated the farm will produce approximately 40.8 million gallons of liquid manure and 5,500 tons of solid manure annually. Based on current animal numbers and available liquid waste storage, it is estimated the farm has 184 days of liquid storage.
I kept telling myself. The pessimist in me laughed. Then, as all hope appeared to be lost, I scooped up the thousandth shovel full of snow and threw it. And out flipped my seemingly gone forever rod that I told myself I would find. I drove off the ice in triumph, and in disbelief that my optimism actually paid off. That shut up the pessimist in me. I thought to myself, “Maybe there is something to this optimism
The farm has a total of 2,872 total acres in their nutrient management plan. Of these acres, 1,551 acres are owned, and 1,690 acres are controlled under land contracts.
The Department has tentatively decided that the Ulrich Farms WPDES CAFO permit should be reissued.
Permit Drafter’s Name, Address, Phone and Email: Jeff Jackson, DNR, 890 Spruce St, Baldwin, WI, 54002, (715) 210-1415, Jeffrey.Jackson@wisconsin.gov
Persons wishing to comment on or object to the proposed permit action, the terms of the nutrient management plan, or the application, or to request a public informational hearing may write to the Department of Natural Resources at the permit drafter’s address. All comments or suggestions received no later than 30 days after the publication date of this public notice will be considered along with other information on file in making a final decision regarding the permit. Anyone providing comments in response to this public notice will receive a notification of the Department’s final decision when the permit is re-issued. Where designated as a reviewable surface water discharge permit, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is allowed up to 90 days to submit comments or objections regarding this permit determination. If no comments are received on the proposed permit from anyone, including U.S. EPA, the permit will be re-issued as proposed.
The Department may schedule a public informational hearing if within 30 days of the public date of this notice, a request for a hearing is filed by any person. The Department shall schedule a public informational hearing
GARDEN: Soil origin and development
FROM PAGE 6
Often called topsoil, this layer features organic matter along with a good mix of particle sizes, known as texture, found in a favorable arrangement, called soil structure. Examples of terminology associated with soils ideal for plants include loam or silt loam texture with granular structure. Surface horizon depth is greater in soils developed under prairies compared to forests.
Immediately below A horizons are B horizons,
stuff.” It was Winston Churchill who said, “The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” So, maybe I’ll consider optimism and give it a shot more often after this small victory. Feel free to reach out at any time. I always welcome your thoughts and opinions. You can reach me at 715-294-2314, or send me an email at editor@osceolasun.com
if a petition requesting a hearing is received from USEPA or from 5 or more persons or if the Department determines there is significant public interest. Requests for a public informational hearing shall state the following: the name and address of the person(s) requesting the hearing; the interest in the proposed permit of the person(s) requesting the hearing; the reasons for the request; and the issues proposed to be considered at the hearing.
Information on file for this permit action, including the draft permit and fact sheet (if required), the operation’s nutrient management plan and application may be inspected and copied at the permit drafter’s office, Monday through Friday (except holidays), between 9:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Please call the permit drafter for directions to their office location, if necessary. Information on this permit action may also be obtained by calling the permit drafter at (715) 210-1415 or by writing to the Department. Reasonable costs (15 cents per page for copies and 7 cents per page for scanning) will be charged for information in the file other than the public notice and fact sheet. Permit information is also available on the internet at: http://dnr. wi.gov/topic/wastewater/PublicNotices.html. Pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, reasonable accommodation, including the provision of informational material in an alternative format, will be made to qualified individuals upon request.
NAME OF PUBLISHING NEWSPAPER: Osceola Sun, 108 Cascade Street, PO Box 248, Osceola, WI, 54020-0248
Date Notice Issued: Wednesday, February 12, 2025
created as water leaches various compounds out of the surface horizon. Often called subsoil, B horizons have the most clay accumulation. Under B horizons lies the C horizon, which still has the characteristics of the original parent material, such as gravel or sand associated with glacier deposits.
Landscape and garden plants growing in soils with undisturbed well-developed A horizons usually flourish. Unfortunately, original A horizons often are removed or destroyed
during home construction, leaving subsoil or variable quality soil fill in its place. Those soils need to be amended to try to recreate the ideal A horizon. This is why amendments such as organic matter are widely recommended for improving or managing yard and garden soils. Bruce Spangenberg is a Horticulture Outreach Specialist with UW-Madison Division of Extension. Get answers to your lawn, landscape, and garden questions anytime at www.go.wisc. edu/GardenQuestions
TOWN: Board to address road safety concerns
are no speed limit signs miles down the road. As of January 9, we had another large accident happen at our house. Someone lost control, hit another person and airbags went off. And then what made the matter worse is the person left and fled on foot onto our property and we were told by four sheriffs, ‘Just lock your doors and it should be okay.’
“This is at least the third or fourth time someone has fled up on our property from having an accident on the road. And it’s scary. We have a three-year-old and a seven-year-old… In November we had a roll-over there and it happened 10 minutes before my son got on the bus and the car landed right where my son stands.”
Clark then cited records provided by the Town Board stating that seven crashes have been recorded between 2010 and 2021, but claimed there had been many more. She also stated
that more than 200 cars pass their property on a daily basis, and that the lack of signage has made the road dangerous.
“We don’t know what to do,” said Clark. “It’s scary. If we would’ve known this nine years ago when we bought our house, we wouldn’t have bought it. We’re having the neighbors reach out to us. We had people reach out after the January 9 accident and people I didn’t even know reaching out to me on Facebook asking what’s going on.”
Clark then asked the board if increased safety measures could be implemented to reduce driver speed and accidents like a solar-powered speed limit sign that would blink to warn drivers to drive slower. Speaking to address the issue was Board Supervisor Tony Johnson.
“We looked into what we can do and what we can’t do of course,” said Johnson. “Todd and I came to the conclusion that we are going to double up on the corner signs. And then we are
going to put a flashing light on the top of one of the corner signs from each direction flashing to warn people that they have to slow down.
“Then each one of the posts itself is going to have a long horizontal reflector on it. We’ll probably have to wait for the frost to come out before we get the other signs up. But we will get the lights and the reflectors on the signs that are there now. The Clarks are right. They should have a right to enjoy their property and not have to worry about people flying through their yard or running through their yard.”
After the new signage and reflectors are placed, the board discussed using a road counter to monitor the speed of passing cars and see if the newer safety measures will help to reduce accidents and speeding. The reflectors will likely be placed in the coming weeks and new signage will be posted in the after the frost thaws.
5:30 pm (ski - snowshoe - hike) 6:30 pm (fat bike)
pm (ski - snowshoe -
6:30 pm (fat bike)
Saturday, February 15 5:00 to 8:00 pm 5:00 pm: walk and snowshoe (sleds and leached dogs welcome) 6:30 pm fat bikes welcome to join Stower Seven Lakes State Trail
Enjoy 4 miles round trip with luminaries lighting the way! Starts at Soo Line Park and goes west to Cty Rd C. Stop by the PowerUp food trailer and warm up with FREE Hot Cider & Fiddlehead Kitchen Veggie Chili while it lasts! No costs or entry fees, but a 2025 Wisconsin State Trail Pass is required for bike for ages 16 and up; passes will be available and are valid for the calendar year on all state trails. Annual pass: $25, Daily pass: $5 Sponsored by Friends of Stower Seven Lakes State Trail, Amery Hospital & Clinic, PowerUp, and Fiddlehead Kitchen
5:30 pm (ski - snowshoe - hike) 6:30 pm (fat bike)
Lakes State Trail CANDLELIGHT NIGHT
Now that we have your attention - SMC Ltd in Amery
openings for Production workers. Our crews work
hour
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Use hand and power assembly tools and fixtures
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• Regular attendance Qualifications:
High School Diploma or equivalent required
• Read, write, and communicate in English
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• Must work well in a team environment
Submit your application at hr@smcltd.com or www.smcltd.com/careers
SPORTS
Chiefs battle through tough conference stretch
The Osceola girls basketball team faced a challenging week in Middle Border Conference play, dropping two hard-fought games against Amery and Altoona.
On Feb. 4, the Chieftains hosted Amery and struggled to find offensive rhythm, falling 51-34.
“Our first half defense was great, but the same could be said for Amery,” OHS coach Mike Haase said. Amery shot 35.2 percent from the field overall compared to Osceola’s 25 percent.
Josie Mork led Osceola with a strong 15-point performance, including three three-pointers and a perfect 4-for-4 from the freethrow line. She also led the team in rebounding with seven.
Kendra Wright added a season-high seven points as she went 3-for-4 from the field. Ayla Krenz and Izzy Ellefson contributed
on the boards, combining for 10 rebounds.
Amery outrebounded Osceola by six and had six fewer turnovers than the Chieftains.
Luciana Aizpurua led three Warriors in double figures with 15 points. She added 10 rebounds and four steals. Alex Edwards recorded 14 points and three rebounds.
Miley Brotzel posted 12 points and four rebounds.
The Chieftains hit the road Feb. 7 to face Altoona, looking to bounce back. Despite a more competitive outing, Osceola fell 46-35 in a closely contested game.
“The first half of this game was very back and forth,” Haase stated. “After halftime, we had a 9-0 run and a five-point lead.
“Then we had a stretch where we turned the ball over too many times. In that portion of the game,
Altoona was on a 20-2 run of their own.”
Addi Siverling scored a gamehigh 14 points for Altoona while adding five rebounds, four assists, and four steals. Jasmen Klika recorded nine points as Emma Lima pulled down nine rebounds.
The Rails went 15-for-21 from the free-throw line, compared to OHS’s 2-for-6. Altoona also outscored Osceola 21-7 in points off turnovers.
Josie Mork scored 17 points and five rebounds for Osceola. Maddie Newton chipped in with eight points, nine rebounds, and four steals.
Osceola is now 3-8 in conference play and 8-11 overall. They have lost five in a row after winning four in a row.
Statistical recap aided by AI.
Saints win fifth conference title in a row
The St. Croix Falls wrestling team captured its fifth conference team title in a row Feb. 8 at Hayward, finishing with 277.5 points. Cumberland was second with 209.5, as Northwestern took third with 183.
“The boys did a fantastic job wrestling with effort and executing skills we’ve been working on this season,” SCF coach Joe Raygor said. “Total team effort having six champions and 12 place in the top four of the conference.
“We wrestle the hardest schedule in the northwest side of Wisconsin to prepare us for February.
The six champions were topped by Logan Bockman (285 pounds),
who posted two pins to take the title to improve his record to 35-2 overall. The final match was a pin over Northwestern’s Julius Mayberry in 3 minutes, 59 seconds. Kaiden Hahn (113) proved unstoppable, pinning Carter Roach of Hayward/Northwood in the semifinals before edging out Aaron Olson of Chetek-Weyerhaeuser/Prairie Farm in a nail-biting 1-0 decision for the championship. He is now 33-5 overall.
Carter Ridgeway (120) blitzed through the competition, highlighted by a lightning pin in the quarterfinals in 56 seconds and a dominant technical fall in the semifinals. He clinched the title with a 6-4 deci-
Where is the best state for the American sportsman to live?
This year’s cold January has many residents wondering why they choose to live here. January 2025 ranks as the 4th coldest winter in Wisconsin over the last 25 years. That’s why I’ve been trying to figure out which is the best state for an outdoors person to live in. That state has to have some of the best fishing, hunting, nicest weather, public lands, plus being dog and hunter friendly. It has to be a safe state having low numbers of hurricanes, tornadoes and natural disasters. There are fewer man eating insects, lower humidity, fewer pests, lack of snow and cold, low crime and affordable cost of living. Once I put those numbers together I looked for
Saints secure backto-back home wins
The St. Croix Falls girls basketball team has won three of its last four games, delivering a strong performance last week, picking up two crucial Heart O’North Conference victories at home to improve their conference record to 6-9.
The action kicked off Feb. 3 when the Saints faced off against Ladysmith in a thrilling matchup that extended into overtime. SCF won 63-55.
“We played good defense,” SCF coach Angie Maternowsky said, as Ladysmith scored four points in the extra session.
the crowd to cheer for the girls.”
The Saints carried that momentum into their Feb. 6 game against Ashland, dominating from start to finish. St. Croix Falls’ defense stifled Ashland, holding them to just nine points total in a commanding 47-9 win.
“We had a nice team game on both ends of the court,” Maternowksy explained.
“Our team defense played Altoona tough, and everyone did a nice job on offense looking for their shot.”
sion over Superior’s Versii Kavajecz to improve to 33-9 overall.
Drake Petersen (165) was a force to be reckoned with, pinning his way through the early rounds and capping his day with a commanding 17-0 technical fall over Jack Owens of Cumberland in the finals.
“Drake had a nice day coming in as a No. 3 seed and pinning his way through the tournament,” Raygor added, improving to 32-6 overall. “He pinned two ranked opponents in the state and is firing at all cylinders right now.”
Griffin Marko (175) put on a technical clinic, winning his semifinal and final matches by technical fall. He had a
dominant 19-4 victory over Ashland’s Connor Kaseno in the championship match. He is now 24-3 overall.
Joe Petherbridge (215) made quick work of his opponents, pinning his way to the top, including a swift 1:07 fall over Spooner/Webster’s James Nauertz in the finals. He is now 27-10 overall.
Taking seconds were Isaac Briggs (144), who cruised through his early matches with backto-back technical falls but narrowly missed the top spot in a hard-fought sudden victory (8-5) against Trenton Kirkland of Hayward/Northwood and Payton
SEE WRESTLING, PAGE 13
“non-outdoorsy intangibles” that can change the entire situation.
If you just wanted to pick the top state with the best fishing, hunting, trout fishing and being the most hunter friendly it’s Alaska. Instead Alaska dropped from first to 11th because it’s the coldest state in the nation and it’s dark for up to 22 hours a day in winter. A state that surprised me by ranking 4th initially was Hawaii with scores of 10 for being the most outdoorsy and happiest state rated by its residents and visitors. Not surprisingly Hawaii scored 9 of 10 for best weather. Despite those high numbers it dropped from 4th to 10th with the highest cost of living and traffic problems. As far as hunting goes Hawaii has no indigenous big game or upland game birds but has several species of both that were brought to Hawaii and illegally released that can be hunted without tags. These include axis deer, Spanish goats, wild
Catherine Williams posted a double-double with 21 points and 10 rebounds. She also went 8-for-10 at the free throw line. Olivia Shimon added 17 points, six rebounds, and six assists. Lexi Arneson posted eight points, while Jocelyn Shimon and Amber Bateman scored seven each.
Marika Gago led three Ladysmith players in double figures with 20 points. Braylee Wiles chipped in with 14 points, as Elli Tucker contributed 13.
“We knew it would be a battle down to the final buzzer,” Maternowsky added. “Shout out to our boys’ basketball team, which led
The Saints jumped out to a 26-2 lead in the first half and never looked back.
Balanced scoring defined the effort, with Ilie Jensen, Olivia Shimon, and Lexi Arneson each contributing 10 points. The Saints’ defense forced 24 steals, turning them into fastbreak opportunities that helped secure the lopsided victory.
Olivia Shimon had a team-high nine rebounds, while Catherine Williams pulled down seven. Williams also had a team-high four assists and four steals.
These back-to-back wins bring the Saints’ overall record to 6-15. Statistical recap aided by AI.
Chieftains dominate against Chisago Lakes
The Osceola wrestling squad put on a powerhouse performance Feb. 6, rolling over Chisago Lakes (Minn.) with a decisive 63-18 victory.
Osceola set the tone from the opening match with Landon
Peterson pinning Grant Hanson at 3 minutes, 59 seconds in the 106-pound match. The momentum only built from there. Alex Willeman and Malakai Barker capitalized on
SEE CHIEFS, PAGE 13
Columnist
Jim Bennett
Wild River Trails is brought to
Strong second half lifts Chieftains to victory
The Osceola boys’ basketball team improved to 9-1 in its last 10 games after a 59-39 victory over Altoona Feb. 7.
The win keeps the Chieftains in first place in the conference at 9-1, one game ahead of Prescott.
OHS improved to 10-6 overall.
“It was a great response from our team in the second half,”
OHS coach Tyler Olson said. “Our defense tightened up, and we took care of the basketball.”
Caleb Irlbeck scored in double figures for the fifth straight
game, posting a team-high 22 points on 10-for-18 shooting from the field. He also added 12 rebounds and three assists.
Hunter Bradway recorded 11 points as Waylon Cole chipped in with seven points, six rebounds, and six assists.
“We continue to get great contributions from several players in key spots,” Olson said. “Aiden Anderson continues to give us great minutes off the bench at the point guard position, and he hit an important three-point shot
early in the second half.
“Jake Bents also made a big three-point shot to extend our lead to 10 points. Jake is as trustworthy and cerebral a player as there is and always seems to put himself in the right spot to make critical plays for us.”
Jonah Race added six points and six rebounds.
Osceola shot 46.1 percent from three-point range. Out of their 23 made field goals, 17 were by assists.
Statistical recap aided by AI.
Folkestad scores 26 points for Saints in win
The St. Croix Falls boys basketball team faced a grueling threegame stretch in Heart O’North Conference play this past week, showing flashes of brilliance but ultimately walking away with one win and two tough losses.
LADYSMITH 63, ST. CROIX FALLS 55
The Saints started strong at home against Ladysmith, taking a 29-22 lead into halftime. Feb. 3. However, the Lumberjacks roared back in the second half, outscoring St. Croix Falls 41-26 to secure the win.
“We had a solid first half and played exceptional team defense,” SCF coach Chad Hall
said. ‘In the second half, we struggled at times to get in a flow offensively.”
Caden Folkestad led the Saints with 13 points and eight rebounds, while Anders Waterworth added 10 points, and Jared DeSmith chipped in eight. Carson Marks contributed seven points and five assists.
Despite their early lead, the Saints struggled to contain Ladysmith’s Timmy Meltz and Andrew Lehman, who tallied 20 points each.
“Ladysmith went on a run early in the second half, and we couldn’t retake the lead,” Hall said.
St. Croix Falls had five more rebounds than
Ladysnith.
“We had more possessions/shot attempts than Ladysmith but didn’t convert consistently in the second half,” Hall concluded.
CHETEK-WEYERHAEUSER 57, ST. CROIX FALLS 44
Chetek-Weyerhaeuser outscored the Saints 3620 in the second half to prevail Feb. 4.
“We did a nice job defensively with our press, but when we cold on the offensive end, we couldn’t produce that same pressure,” Hall added.
Bryce Killoren led all scorers with 16 points and 10 rebounds. Brodrick Olson and Brady Lentz added 11 points each for the Bulldogs.
C-W went 20-for-33
from the free throw line while the Saints were 7-for-15. The Bulldogs also outrebounded SCF by five.
Brett Sladky had a team-high 10 points for SCF as Caden Folkestad tossed in nine. Elliot Wilson had a game-high 13 rebounds, with Jared DeSmith, Sladky, and Folkestad pulling down six rebounds each.
The Saints shot 16-for56 from the field.
“It was a surprise to see we struggled to shoot from the inside and the outside,” Hall said.
ST. CROIX FALLS 78, HAYWARD 68
Back on their home court, the Saints
SEE SAINTS, PAGE 16
WRESTLING: Saints win title
FROM
Kelly (157), who advanced to the finals with a pin and a decisive 8-4 win over Cameron’s Conner Carlson in the semifinals. He was then stopped short by Cumberland’s Logan Peterson in the finals.
“Payton had a great upset win over Conner Carlson,” Raygor said. “Carlson pinned him earlier this year in the dual, so it’s great to see Payton come back and win that redemption.”
Third places went to Copelan Grimes (106) and Micah Nwachukwu (190).
“Copelan pinned Hayward’s Ransom Houselin the third-place match that defeated him earlier this season at Northern Badger,” Raygor said. “He did it with a third period pin trailing hitting the signature ‘pizza maker’ maneuver.”
Jack Ryan (138) and Kort Fleck (132) added fourth place finishes.
Statistical recap aided by AI.
CHIEFS: Osceola dominates
FROM PAGE 12
forfeits at 113 and 120 pounds, pushing the Chieftains ahead early.
Osceola roared back after a brief stumble at 126 pounds, where Lucas Yang of Chisago Lakes managed a pin over Travis Sicard. Luke Taylor grabbed a dominant 8-1 decision at 132, followed by Hunter Kromrey’s pin at 2:58 in the 138-pound class.
Logan Meyer wasted no time at 144 pounds, pinning Bruce Sweno in just 1:05, while Cody
Meyer followed suit with a 1:39 fall at 150 pounds. Isaac Dunnom picked up another forfeit win at 157, and Wyatt Hastings added to the highlight reel with a pin at 3:30 in the 165-pound bout.
The Chieftains’ relentless streak continued with Tristan Campeau securing a fall at 3:03 in the 175-pound class, while Elliot Havlish wrapped up Osceola’s dominant showing with a pin at 1:28 in the 215-pound matchup.
Statistical recap aided by AI.
Stars hockey post two conference wins
The Western Wisconsin Stars girls hockey team took over the Feb. 4 game against Hudson in the final 36 minutes, scoring the final three goals to defeat the Raiders 4-1.
Ashley Jensen started the scoring unassisted at 3 minutes, 6 seconds in the first period. Marley Larson scored Hudson’s lone goal at 14:37. Izzy Johnson gave the Stars the lead 45 seconds later, with Madison Kamish assisting.
The Stars scored two insurance goals in the second, with Charlotte Rea scoring first and Taylor Larson on the power play. Rea and Britni Detsch assisted on the Larson goal. Western Wisconsin finished with 28 shots on goal to Hudson’s 21. Sierra Andert stopped 20 shots to earn the win. Hudson went 0-for-4 on the power play.
STARS 2, CHIPPEWA FALLS/ MENOMONIE 1
Britni Detsch’s goal with 84 seconds left in the third period proved to be the difference in the Feb. 3 game.
Charlotte Rea and Lauren Kvitek assisted as the Stars finished with 25 shots on goal compared to CF/Menomonie’s 20.
Taryn O’Hara started scoring 80 seconds into the first period, with Chloe Julson and
Gabby Thomsen assisting. CF/ Menomonie then scored its lone goal in the first period.
Both teams struggled on the power play as the Stars went 0-for-4, while the Sabers were 0-for-3.
Sierra Andert stopped 19 shots to earn the win.
Heading into the final week of the regular season, Western Wisconsin is now 5-2 in the conference and 10-11-1 overall. Jensen is the team’s leading
Notice of Spring Primary and Sample Ballots
February 18, 2025
goal scorer with 16, while Johnson has a team-high 13 assists.
PLAYOFFS
The Stars earned the second seed in its sectional. The Stars will host No. 7 Coulee Region 8 p.m., Feb. 20 at Somerset. The two teams played Jan. 7, with the Stars prevailing 7-1. Statistical recap aided by AI.
Office of the County Clerk
To the voters of POLK COUNTY
Notice is hereby given of a spring primary election to be held in Polk County on February 18th, 2025 at which the officers named below shall be chosen.
The names of the candidates for each office, whose nominations have been certified to or filed in this office, are given under the title of the office, each in its proper column, together with the questions submitted to a vote, for a referendum, if any, in the sample ballot below.
Information to Voters
Upon entering the polling place and before being permitted to vote, a voter shall:
· state their name and address · show an acceptable form of photo identification* · sign the poll book**
*If a voter does not have acceptable photo identification, the voter may obtain a free photo ID for voting from the Division of Motor Vehicles.
**If the voter is unable to sign the poll book due to disability, a poll worker may write the word “exempt.”
If a voter is not registered to vote, they may register to vote at the polling place serving their residence if the voter provides proof of residence.
Where ballots are distributed to voters, the initials of two inspectors must appear on the ballot.
Upon being permitted to vote, the voter shall enter a voting booth or go to a machine and cast their ballot. The vote should not be cast in any manner other than specified here. Sample ballots or other materials to assist the voter in marking their ballot may be taken into the booth and copied. The sample ballot shall not be shown to anyone so as to reveal how the ballot is marked.
A voter who is a parent or guardian may be accompanied by the voter’s minor child or minor ward.
An election official may inform the voter of the proper manner for casting a vote but the official may not advise or indicate a particular voting choice.
Assistance for Voting
A voter may select an individual to assist in casting their vote if the voter declares to the presiding official that they are unable to read, have difficulty reading, writing, or understanding English, or that due to disability are unable to cast their ballot. The selected individual rendering assistance may not be the voter’s employer or an agent of that employer or an officer or agent of a labor organization which represents the voter.
Where Optical Scan Voting is
Used
The voter shall fill in the oval next to the name of the candidate of their choice for each office for which he or she intends to vote. To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the
ballot, the voter shall write in the name of the person of their choice in the space provided for a write-in vote and fill in the oval next to the write-in line. On referendum questions, the voter shall fill in the oval next to “yes” if in favor of the question, or the voter shall fill in the oval next to “no” if opposed to the question. When using an electronic ballot marking device (“Automark,” “ExpressVote,” Clear Access or “ImageCast Evolution-ICE”) to mark an optical scan ballot, the voter shall touch the screen or use the tactile pad to select the name of the candidate of their choice for each office for which they intend to vote. To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the voter shall type in the name of the person of their choice in the space provided for a write-in vote. On referendum questions, the voter shall touch the screen or use the tactile pad to select “yes” if in favor of the question, or the voter shall touch the screen or use the tactile pad to select “no” if opposed to the question.
Where Touch Screen Voting is Used
The voter shall touch the screen or use the tactile pad to select the name of the candidate of their choice for each office for which they intend to vote. To vote for a person whose name does not appear on the ballot, the voter shall type in the name of the person of their choice in the space provided for a write-in vote. On referendum questions, the voter shall touch the screen at “yes” if in favor of the question, or the voter shall touch the screen at “no” if opposed to the question.
Spoiled Ballots
If a voter spoils an optical scan ballot, they shall return it to an election official who shall issue another ballot in its place, but not more than three ballots shall be issued to any one voter. If the ballot has not been initialed by two inspectors or is defective in any other way, the voter shall return it to the election official, who shall issue a proper ballot in its place.
The voter may spoil a touch screen ballot at the voting station before the ballot is cast.
After Voting the Ballot
After an official optical scan ballot is marked, it may be inserted in the security sleeve, so the marks do not show. The voter shall insert the ballot in the voting device and discard the sleeve or deliver the ballot to an inspector for deposit. If a central count system is used, the voter shall insert the ballot in the ballot box and discard the sleeve or deliver the ballot to an inspector for deposit. The voter shall leave the polling place promptly.
After an official touch screen ballot is cast, the voter shall leave the polling place promptly.
The following is a sample of the official ballot:
POLK COUNTY- All municipalities and wards
Official Primary Ballot
Nonpartisan Office February 18, 2025
Notice to voters: if you are voting on Election Day, your ballot must be initialed by two (2) election inspectors. If you are voting absentee, your ballot must be initialed by the municipal clerk or deputy clerk. Your ballot may not be counted without initials (see end of ballot for initials).
General Instructions
If you make a mistake on your ballot or have a question, ask an election inspector for help (absentee voters: contact your municipal clerk).
To vote for a name on the ballot, fill in the oval next to the name like this:
To vote for a name that is not on the ballot, write the name on the line marked "write-in" and fill in the oval next to the name like this:
State Superintendent of Public Instruction
State Superintendent Vote for 1
Jeff Wright
Brittany Kinser
Jill Underly write-in:
SAMPLE
Official Primary Ballot
Nonpartisan Office February 18, 2025 for
Town of Alden, Ward 1, 2, 3, 4 Polk County
Ballot ID: 1101
Ballot issued by
Initials of election inspectors Absentee ballot issued by Initials of Municipal Clerk or Deputy Clerk
_______________ _______________
If issued by SVDs, both must initial Certification of Voter Assistance I certify that I marked or read aloud this ballot at the request and direction of a voter who is authorized under Wis. Stat. §6.82 to receive assistance.
Signature of assistor
None injured in Springs Inn fire
A fire has burned down Taylors Falls’ Springs Inn Motel, but no injuries have been reported. The fire has left many displaced with the community gathering around them to provide shelter while first responders put out the fire.
According to reports, the Chisago County Emergency Communications Center began receiving calls around 7:15 a.m. Feb. 7 that black smoke and fire were coming from the Springs Inn Motel located on Government St. in downtown Taylors Falls.
The Taylors Falls Fire Department and Chisago County Deputies responded on scene within approximately three minutes.
“Yesterday was a long day with 13+ hours on scene,” the Taylors Falls Fire Department posted on social media. “After the initial knockdown and while waiting for the Minnesota State Fire Marshal to complete their investigation we also were paged to a critical EMS call in Taylors Falls that we had to divert resources to.”
When first responders arrived, fire was reported to be coming from the second floor of the three-story building and extending through the third floor. Evacuation measures were carried out immediately and all occupants of the building were rescued without injury. Those displaced were connected with the American Red Cross and the City Council opened up the Memorial Community Center along with several local businesses and members of the community to provide shelter, food and water for firefighters and the occupants of Springs Inn.
“We can’t thank the community enough for their support throughout the day,” the social
Somerset boys hockey seeded first in its sectional
BY JASON SCHULTE SENTINELSPORTS48@GMAIL.COM
The Somerset boys hockey team raced out to a fast start, scoring two goals in the first 80 seconds, to cruise to the 7-1 win over the Northwest Icemen Feb. 6.
Devin Richardson recorded a hat trick, his first of the season. He scored his first goal, 67 seconds into the game, unassisted. He added his second in the second at 14:06 thanks to Ryland Lathe and Broden Thiel assisting. He then registered his third and the game’s final goal, at 11:51 of the third on the power play with Micaiah Schuld assisting.
The Spartans finished with 54 shots on goal, including 23 in the first period.
Somerset scored four times in the first, with Wyatt Olson
media post continued.
“Dave at Romayne’s for opening his business for firefighters to warm up; Brandon Weiberg, Mayor of Taylors Falls, MN, his family, Taylors Falls City staff, and city council members for opening up the Memorial Community Center and providing meals and a warm place for victims and firefighters to warm up, as well as countless residents that dropped off food and water.
“Another huge thank you to the Taylors Falls Public Works Department for their support all day. From monitoring city water levels, to helping secure utilities to the building, re-fueling fire trucks, and helping coordinate the demolition, they were by our side all day long.”
Recent fires in Shafer, Minn. and Dresser, Wis. have also recently occurred, but a press release from the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office stated, “Currently, we do not believe recent fires in Shafer, MN or Dresser, WI have nexus to one another; however, this will be further investigated through the joint investigation. No further information is available at this time.”
The Minnesota Fire State Marshall, the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office Investigation Division, and the Taylors Falls Fire Department are currently conducting a joint investigation to determine the source of the fire. Some occupants of the building reported a potential electrical issue near the source of the fire which is being assessed by the investigating parties.
Responding on scene were the Taylors Falls Fire Department, St. Croix Falls Fire Department, Shafer Fire Department, Lindstrom Fire Department, Almelund Fire Department and Lakes Regions EMS.
scoring 13 seconds after Richardson with Schuld assisting. Broden Thiel added the third goal, with Breck Richardson and Blake Thiel assisting, while Lathe capped off the scoring with Devin Richardson assisting.
Layne Pinska scored a goal sandwiched between Devin Richardson’s two goals, 26 seconds into the third, thanks to assists from Phillip Williams and Blake Thiel.
Devin Richardson’s power-play goal was the only successful for Somerset out of three attempts.
Carson Belisle stopped 21 Icemen shots to earn the win.
TARTAN 2, SOMERSET 1 Tartan scored both goals on the power play to claim the Feb. 8 game.
Wyle Rutherford started the scoring at 14:00 in the first period unassisted. Devin Richardson
STANDINGS
scored Somerset’s lone goal with one second left in the second period with Michael Linder on the assist.
Jase Buche scored the game-winner at 13:48 of the third with Tyler Luttrell and Braxton Remackel assisting.
As Tartan was flourishing on the power play, Somerset went 0-for-4.
Tartan finished with 28 shots on goal compared to Somerset’s 25. Carson Belisle recorded 26 saves.
The Spartans are now 5-2 in the conference and 15-7 overall. PLAYOFFS
Somerset earned the top seed in its Division 2 sectional and will host No. 8 West Salem/Bangor 5:45 p.m., Feb. 20 in the first round. The sectional final is 1 p.m., March 1 at Somerset.
17-4
3-4 9-9-1
0-7 5-16
RIVERS CONFERENCE GIRLS HOCKEY STANDINGS CONFOVERALL
NOTICE OF GENERAL ELECTION AND SAMPLE BALLOTS
Luck, WI 54853 Ellen Gnan
Town Of Clam Falls Clam Falls Town Hall 3178 80th St, Frederic, WI 54837 Jane Schmidt
Town Of Clayton Clayton Town Hall 462 105th Ave, Clayton, WI 54004 Tracy LaBlanc
Town Of Clear Lake Clear Lake Town Hall 375 46th St, Clear Lake, WI 54005
Town Of Eureka Eureka Town Hall 2395 210th St, St Croix Falls, WI 54024
Janelle Johnson
David Anderson
Town Of Farmington Farmington Town Hall 2647 30th Ave, Osceola, WI 54020 Steve Swanson
Town Of Garfield Garfield Town Hall 690 Minneapolis St, Amery, WI 54001 Sue Knutson
Town Of Georgetown Georgetown Town Hall 1847 100th St, Balsam Lake, WI 54810 Cheryl True
Town Of Johnstown Johnstown Town Shed/Hall 2181 20th St, Comstock, WI 54826 Deanne Moravitz
Town Of Laketown Cushing Community Center 2510 242nd St, Cushing, WI 54006 Debbie Tretsven
Town Of Lincoln Lincoln Town Hall 661 85th St, Amery, WI 54001 Stephanie Marciniak
Town Of Lorain Lorain Town Hall 252 345th Ave, Frederic, WI 54837 Susan Hughes
Town Of Luck Luck Town Hall 135 1st Ave W, Luck, WI 54853 Patsy Gustafson
Town Of McKinley McKinley
Town Of Milltown Milltown
Town Of Osceola Osceola
54829 Anna Weaver
54858 Cheryl Kloehn
CONTRIBUTED
A fire broke out Feb. 7 at the Springs Inn Motel in Taylors Falls. All occupants were rescued without injury.
BENNETT: Where is the best state for a sportsman to live?
FROM PAGE 12
boar, black buck antelope Vancouver bulls, Japanese quail, sand grouse plus spotted and barred dove to name a few.
Montana dropped from 6th to 9th due to their long cold winter and poor earning potential. Wisconsin actually moved up to 8th from 10th despite having some of the highest taxes and those long cold winters. Those outweigh deer hunting, fishing and world renowned ruffed grouse hunt-
HOROSCOPES
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20
A good first impression is really important right now, Aries. Be sure to wear your best clothes and check out your appearance before you meet up with anyone this week.
TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21
Taurus, you are bound to have a lot of fun this week, and you will spread cheerfulness to others. You might host a party or plan some sort of night out with friends.
GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21
None of the usual strategies to confront family issues are working right now, Gemini. You may need to take a step away and give others distance for the time being until things cool off.
CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22
Cancer, some tech upgrades can help ensure an exciting new project starts off on the right foot. Enlist others to help
ing. One of my favorite states in spring, summer and fall, Wyoming, moved up one notch to 7th but extremely long commutes to and from work and long hard winters make it a state for the hardiest types only.
A real surprise in 6th place was Indiana, originally tied with Wisconsin for 10th. No sales tax and 68,000 acres of public land moved
The Hoosier State up in the rankings along with big game management of animals once common and then lost. Today you can
and welcome any insight.
LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23
This week is your chance to take a break and let someone else take center stage for a bit while you enjoy time out of the spotlight, Leo. Right now you may need a little alone time.
VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22
Virgo, you know what you have to get done, so it is well past time to put one foot in front of the other and get moving. Others have helped, but you have to see it to completion.
LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23
Focus all of your energy on the important people in your life right now, Libra. Other things can wait for the time being. Don’t be too hard on yourself for not getting everything done.
SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22
Scorpio, as things in your life
hunt deer, moose, bear as well as elk and pronghorn antelope. The last two were lost from Indiana’s landscape but have been successfully reintroduced and properly managed to allow hunting today. Game birds include bobwhite, pheasant, ruffed grouse, prairie chicken and Lake Michigan. To be continued with the Top 5... Jim Bennett is an outdoorsman who lived and worked in the St. Croix River Valley and can be reached at jamesbennett24@ gmail.com for comments.
continue to evolve, you may be tempted to jump into something new. You might want to slow the pace and exercise due diligence first.
SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21
Sagittarius, have you bitten off more than you can chew this week? If so, you probably have to ask for some helpers to step up and pitch in. Teamwork is a good thing.
CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20
Some tough decisions are ahead of you, Capricorn. It might be best to think things through logically and leave emotion out of the equation for the time being.
AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18
Aquarius, it can be dangerous to think you know everything. This week, listen to what others have to say before deciding if their ideas have merit. This approach can benefit all
involved.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20
Step up this week with confidence, Pisces. Now is not the time to be inflexible or shy. Go with the flow as much as possible, and learn and listen along the way.
FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS
FEBRUARY 9
Tom Hiddleston, Actor (44)
FEBRUARY 10
Chloë Grace Moretz, Actress (28)
FEBRUARY 11
Jennifer Aniston, Actress (56)
FEBRUARY 12
Christina Ricci, Actress (45)
FEBRUARY 13
Peter Gabriel, Singer (75)
FEBRUARY 14
Freddie Highmore, Actor (33)
FEBRUARY 15
Matt Groening, Cartoonist (71)
RECIPES
Cherry-almond ice cream is a scoop above the rest
Ice cream is a beloved dessert. The extraordinary number of flavor combinations that can be achieved simply by mixing together a few ingredients undoubtedly contributes to the popularity of ice cream.
For those partial to cherries and almonds, there’s nothing better than combining those flavors in this recipe for “No-Churn Cherry Bakewell Ice Cream” from “Jane’s Patisserie” (Sourcebooks) by Jane Dunn.
No-Churn Cherry Bakewell Ice Cream Serves 10
200 grams pitted cherries (about 1 cup)
450 milliliters double (heavy) cream (about 2 cups) 397 grams condensed milk (14 ounces) 1 teaspoon almond extract
1⁄2 teaspoon pink food coloring (optional) Cherries and toasted flaked almonds, to serve
Add the pitted cherries to a blender and blitz until smooth. Pass through a sieve to remove any lumps and set aside.
Pour the cream into a bowl and whip to soft peaks.
Put the condensed milk, almond extract, pink food coloring (if using) and puréed cherries into a separate bowl and stir to combine, then pour the mixture into a container, like a large loaf tin.
Freeze for at least 5 to 6 hours, or preferably overnight so it has time to get the correct texture. Remove from the freezer about 20 minutes before serving to allow it to soften slightly. Scoop into bowls and serve topped with fresh cherries and toasted flaked almonds.
SAINTS: Folkestad scores 26
FROM PAGE 13
bounced back with a much-needed victory over Hayward Feb. 7.
“Our offensive output was very good,” Hall said, as the Saints scored 44 points in the first half.
Caden Folkestad led all scorers with 26 points along with 17 rebounds. He was 10-for-16 from the field overall. Anders Waterworth finished with 20 points, connecting on six three-pointers.
Elliot Wilson posted a double-double with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
“As a team, we committed only four turnovers in the first half,” Hall added. “We had solid defense down the stretch and some key buckets and free throws to hold Hayward off.”
Carson Marks contributed seven points,
four rebounds, five assists, and six steals. Brett Sladky chipped in with seven points and six rebounds. Hayward had only five players score, and all in double figures: Caleb Springer (17), Tyler Eaton (14), Ryker Chipman (13), Lucas Hansen, and Dawson Jorczak (12 each).
The Saints outrebounded Haywrd by 22.
“We struggled with turnovers for a small portion of the game, and we didn’t shoot free throws (16-for-33) well,” Hall concludes on what needed improvement
The victory marked their third conference win of the season, bringing their record to 3-11 in the Heart O’North conference and 5-13 overall. Statistical recap aided by AI.
THE SUN
Prepare for power outages today with a Generac Home Standby Generator. Act now to receive a FREE 5-Year warranty with qualifying purchase. Call 1-888355-6955 today to schedule a free quote. It’s not just a generator. It’s a power move. Donate your car, truck, boat, RV and more to support our
veterans! Schedule a FAST, FREE vehicle pickup and receive a top tax deduction! Call Veteran Car Donations at 1-888-425-2108 today! Consumer Cellular - the same reliable, nationwide coverage as the largest carriers. No long-term contract, no hidden fees and activation is free. All plans feature unlimit -
STORAGE UNIT AUCTION
Pine Crest Storage Units 2627 40th Ave., Osceola Possessions belonging to: Kari Boaz: General household, snowmobile, apparel, racking. Brian Heidt: Household goods. Auction runs Feb. 12-27 storageauctions.com
ed talk and text, starting at just $20/month. For more information, call 1-833-518-2155 GUN SHOW: February 14-16, 2025, Sunnyview Expo, 500 E. Cty Rd Y, Oshkosh, WI. Fri 3-8pm, Sat 9am5pm, Sun 9am-3pm. Admission: $8 (14 & Under FREE) Buy/Sell/Trade 608-752-6677 www. bobandrocco.com.
Health
Shell Lake HEC (PT)
Join our team in Shell Lake, where you'll lead the cutting-edge operations of Standardized Patient/ Telehealth and Anatomage Table technology, ensuring top-notch support and training in a dynamic, grant-funded role through 2027!
Math Lab Professional Tutors
New Richmond and Rice Lake Campus (PT)
Ready to make a real impact? Join our dynamic team– where your energy, innovation, and passion will help shape the future of students!
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Academic Program Associate
New Richmond Campus (FT)
Join our dynamic academic program team and play a key role in providing vital administrative and program support, from scheduling to assisting advisory committees in driving impactful educational initiatives!
Adult Education Instructor for Corrections
Douglas County Jail/Superior Campus (PT)
Join our team as an Adult Education Instructor at Douglas County Jail, where you'll visit twice a week to empower individuals by providing instruction in GED/HSED preparation, employability skills, reading, writing, math, and success strategies to help them unlock their potential!
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We're seeking a reliable, on-call front desk support member with strong communication, organization, and customer service skills! Flexible hours, mostly 8 am to 4:30 pm, with occasional evenings. Ready to make an impact? Apply today!
Learn more and apply online at: https://www.northwoodtech.edu/employment Northwood Tech is an Equal Opportunity/Access/Affirmative Action/ Veterans/Disability Employer and Educator TTY 711
CUSTOMER SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE
Local independent insurance agency is seeking a reliable, organized, and enthusiastic customer service representative to be part of our friendly team at our St Croix Falls office working 30-35 hours a week. Employer provides a fun and rewarding atmosphere with growth opportunity. Isn't it about time you love your job and the people you work with?
What You’ll Do:
• Verify coverage, evaluate insurance needs, cross sell, and process customer policy changes
• Communicate policy transactions and billing impact
• Process payments
• Maintain customer information in agency management system
• Document communications and transactions
• Build rapport with each customer as you respond to their inquiries
• Retain policyholders who inquire about canceling through open listening, options and policy review
• Accurately explain insurance coverage and benefits
• Attract new clients with professionalism, knowledge, and a friendly personality
• Share ideas for efficient processes and growth
What We Need From You:
• Proficiency to multi-task, follow-thru and follow-up.
• Great Customer Service Skills.
• Driven and goal-oriented individual.
• Ability to tactfully handle stressful and difficult situations.
• Be able to obtain or currently possess a Property & Casualty insurance license.
• Possess an upbeat, positive and enthusiastic attitude.
• Excellent written, verbal and interpersonal skills.
• Clean background.
Please call 715-483-3290 or send your resume to service@crexinsurance.com
