WEDNESDAY, MARCH 30, 2016
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 118 NO. 35 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola track competes in Menomonie. PAGE 21
Highway 8 closes from Taylors Falls to Franconia BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Planned roadwork on Highway 8 in Chisago County got an early start last week when rainfall destabilized part of the highway and adjacent slope, prompting the road’s closure from the intersection of Highway 95 to Taylors Falls. “There was a little bit of a problem with the road in a small area within the closure,” said Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) spokesperson Denise Workcuff. “They’re going to repair a slope, and a more permanent repair will happen during the construction project.” Motorists were detoured through Osceola using Hwy 95, Hwy 243 and Wisconsin Hwy 35. The road is expected to re-open to car traffic Friday, April 1, but lane widths and speed limits will be reduced until permanent repairs can be completed later this spring.
MNDOT
A preliminary construction schedule for Highway 8 roadwork shows construction in downtown Taylors Falls in April and May. During this stage, car traffic will use the highway as road crews finish work on the planned detour route. Beginning in June the highway will be closed, likely through October. Access to Interstate Park, Wildwood Campground and local residences will be available.
During summer and fall 2016, car traffic will be directed north of Highway 8. Truck traffic, which is already following a detour through Osceola, will continue to do so.
Crews began working on planned improvements – including road resurfacing, slope stabilization and the installation of a roundabout at the intersection of highways 8 and 95 – March 28.
begin work on the highway in June, when it will close the road to all but local traffic. Car through-traffic will follow a detour along 310th Street. Local residents and
Roadwork is expected to continue through October. Road crews will focus their efforts on downtown Taylors Falls in April and May. During this stage Highway 8 will
OMC celebrates 10th anniversary Healthy Heart 5K
SEE 5K, PAGE 15
Wildwood Campground visitors will be able to access the area from the west end of the Highway 8 closure. Access to Interstate Park will be offered from the east end of the closure.
Osceola native to take helm of naval ship
Healthy Heart 5K
Osceola Medical Center’s Healthy Heart 5K Run/Walk is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. With the recent nice weather, this year’s 5K is expected to again be popular. Going back over the years, there have been some interesting constants, according to OMC’s Bob Wolf, race director. Easily two-thirds of the runners and walkers have been women. A third of all participants are 30 to 39 years old, and a constant 10 percent have been 14 and younger. But the biggest constant, Wolf said, “is the enthusiasm of the event, from the many volunteers, the high school
be open to cars only. Truck traffic will continue using the detour through Osceola until further notice, likely through summer and fall. MnDOT expects to
MNDOT
ed for major command last November. The ship is a San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock named after the Oregon city. If that seems obvious, it shouldn’t. The first USS Portland, a World War II warship, was named for Portland, Maine. The second USS Portland,
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Plans are coming together for an Osceola native to take command of a Navy vessel currently under construction in Mississippi, the USS Portland (LPD-27). The commanding officer is Jeremy Hill, who was promoted to captain in Sept. 2015 and select-
Jeremy Hill
SEE HILL, PAGE 8
Locals note falling grocery prices LISA ERICKSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SUBMITTED
The annual Healthy Heart 5K Run/Walk and free Kids Run is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year. The event begins and ends at Osceola High School. More information is available at HealthyHeart5K.com.
NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
ADVERTISING 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
Good news, Wisconsin grocery bills are less then they were a year ago. Prices for many things consumers typically purchase are now cheaper according to the Wisconsin Farm Bureau Federation in a press release last PUBLIC NOTICES 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
week. The Bureau conducts surveys in the spring and in the fall on 16 basic food items. The survey showed that overall grocery prices dropped by almost seven percent. Some basic food items such as eggs dropped over 50 percent. “Greater supplies of milk, pork, beef SEE GROCERIES, PAGE 15
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