WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2019
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 121 NO. 30 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: SCF wrestlers win Sectional head to state. PAGE 14
Stower Seven Lakes State Trail fate headed to court BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
When it comes to the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail and the debate on its usage, nothing in the process has been simple. The latest element in the pursuit to keep the trail nonmotorized is a lawsuit filed Feb. 8 by Peter Henry against Polk County. Henry is alleging the county board violated numerous portions of the state’s open meeting law when it passed the new comprehensive plan for the trail on Oct. 16. Henry is seeking an order declaring that the County Board violated the Open Meetings Law, voiding the result of the board’s Oct. 16, 2018 meeting as to the amendment of the SSLT draft master plan to allow ATV/UTV use of the trail and legal costs. Background On March 20, 2018, the County
Board adopted Resolution 28-18. Among other things, the resolution authorized the commencement of a state trail planning process for the SSLT. Resolution 28-18 provided for the creation of a citizen subcommittee of the Environmental Services Committee of the County Board to develop a draft master plan for the trail. Resolution 28-18 also acknowledged that Polk County must conduct the planning process “in accordance with Natural Resources administrative regulations concerning trail plan development,” and resolved that the process and plan should be “consistent with Chapter NR 44, Wisconsin Adm. Code to the extent practicable.” Pursuant to Resolution 28-18, a subcommittee was formed and a schedule was established purporting to meet the “public participation” standard of N.R. 44, including a public hearing for purposes of gathering citizen input, an online public survey, and a public
open house where the subcommittee’s work would be unveiled. Starting in June 2018, the subcommittee implemented the schedule it had established and prepared a draft SSLT master plan that recommended uses of the trail continue to be walking, bicycling, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing. Added as allowed uses were snowmobiling and horseback riding. The draft master plan excluded ATV and UTV use of the SSLT. The subcommittee forwarded its draft SSLT master plan to the Environmental Services Committee in August 2018. The committee on Sept. 5, 2018, discussed and forwarded the draft master plan, without recommendation, to the County Board for its consideration. On Oct. 16, 2018, the County Board met in regular session. The public notice of the meeting, under Proposed Resolutions and OrdiSEE TRAIL, PAGE 10
High school variety show will benefit Pennies for Patients
Star Prairie family gives daughter a ‘hoot’ of a birthday BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
The extraordinarily cold temperatures two weeks ago did not stop A.J. and Jessie Simon from attempting to take their daughter Hailey to the Olive Garden for her 11th birthday. Travel to the destination would prove to be an experience that Hailey, her younger brother Xander, and their parents will never forget. They were traveling west on highway 64 toward Somerset, just passing the Apple River when A.J. pulled the car over to the side of the road. It wasn’t weather or car troubles that caused him to veer off the road;
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Signs signaling no snowmobiling were reposted on the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail on Feb. 11.
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
in the frigid weather. A.J. and Jessie made phone calls to local vets
Money raised March 2 at the Osceola High School’s annual variety show will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Pennies for Patients campaign. Area residents have become familiar with Pennies for Patients as a fundraiser at Osceola Elementary School, held annually since 1996. The elementary school’s fundraiser is active right now, with students accepting pennies (and donations of any size) through the end of February. Plans for the high school variety show include a visit from former OHS Drama Club member and leukemia survivor Hannah Kautz. Kautz, who was diagnosed when she was 3 years old, was involved with Pennies for Patients throughout her school career and will share her story with the audience. A current student at Osceola Elementary, Weston Clausen, was diagnosed with A.L.L. leukemia in November 2016.
SEE OWL, PAGE 11
SEE VARIETY SHOW, PAGE 10
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A.J. Simon wrapped a wounded owl found on the road side in his jacket.
something interesting caught his eye. A.J noticed an odd-looking bird on the side of the highway.
After approaching the injured owl, the Simons made the decision they couldn’t leave the bird to suffer
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