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SPORTS: High school sports in limbo. PAGE 8
Local residents offer matching donations for ventilators BY C.L. SILL EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
May township resident William Emison and two other area residents who wish to remain anonymous are offering to match donations to area hospitals for the purchase of new ventilator machines. Emison worked in business development until his retirement several years ago and said he got the idea after reading an article in Forbes magazine that discussed the shortage of ventilators throughout the country. “That bothered me,” he said. “And two Fridays ago now I woke up, opened my eyes and decided I wanted to be the bridge.” Emison reached out to three hospitals in the area, Lakeview hospital in Stillwater, Minn., St. Croix Regional Medial Center in St. Croix Falls Wisc., and the Osceola Medical Center in Osceola, Wisc. to see if they would be interested in a matching grant style program. “I said ‘I’d like you to make the decision now to buy additional equipment,’” he said. “And we’re going to sponsor it come hell or high water.” All three hospitals have agreed to the arrangement and orders have been placed for additional supplies. Emison is ready to match up to $275,000 in donations. Emison said he and his wife Tina have given to organizations regularly in the past and they feel especially compelled said conversations with hospital SEE DONATIONS, PAGE 6
‘Down in front’ Bethesda Lutheran Church offers drive in service BY C.L. SILL EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Group honking is good for the soul. The activity normally reserved for insulting the texting driver in front of you at the now green stoplight is being put to better use at Bethesda Lutheran Church in rural Polk County. The church has adopted drive in services in lieu of the more popular ‘virtual’ church gatherings that are sweeping the nation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 29, Pastor Peter Rimmereid stood in sideways rain for over an hour while his congregation watched and listened from their cars in the parking lot of the church. Several times throughout the service the congregation honked their horns in unison after a particularly potent moment in Rimmereid’s sermon. The wimpy, tin beeps of compact sedans mixed with potent belts of F-250s in the back row mimicked a very, very out of tune organ as parishioners from across the county came together to try to retain some sense of normalcy in lives that are now anything but. Rimmereid came up with the idea for drive in services and he said it came more from necessity than novelty. “I know a lot of our folks are older,” he said. “I just knew (streaming) would be a struggle.” With many in the congregation unable to access on-
SUBMITTED
Pastor Peter Rimmereid speaks to his congregation during a drive in church service at Bethesda Lutheran Church on March 29.
line services, Rimmereid was left to think outside the box. “I was thinking about how we do an outdoor church in the summer sometimes, and then I thought of a drive-in theater,” he said. Rimmereid thought he could model a church service after a drive in, so he and a
Law enforcement focused on educating citizens about COVID-19 Departments continue day-to-day operations, with added safety precautions BY C.L. SILL EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Law enforcement departments in Minnesota and Wisconsin are happy with the response to shelter in place orders issued due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Most people are taking the orders seriously and not gathering in large groups, according to Polk County Sheriff Brent Waak. “I think the community here has done an outstanding job of self regulating,” he said. “They closed our bars and restaurants on St. Patrick’s Day and we had virtually no complaints.” The more overarching ‘safer at home’ order followed closely NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
behind the decision to close all bars and restaurants in Wisconsin and went into affect March 25. Misinformation about the enforcement of this order is a concern for Waak, who said he has received questions about the state requiring ‘travel papers’ for people who wish to leave their homes. “(The order) specifically says you don’t need documentaSEE LAW ENFORCEMENT, PAGE 16
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couple of particularly tech savvy members of the church set out to make it happen. They gathered up a flatbed trailer, a small stage and the church sound system, along with an FM transmitter, borrowed from Rimmereid’s father, who’s also a pastor. The device puts out a very
localized FM radio frequency that can be used to broadcast music, speech, or in this case a church sermon. Rimmereid speaks into a microphone and the audio is then transmitted from the sound system through the radio frequency SEE CHURCH, PAGE 2
Governor Evers suspends in-person voting Calls Legislature into Special Session on April 7 Election Governor Tony Evers, in the absence of legislative action, today signed Executive Order 74, suspending in-person voting for the April 7 spring election, moving in-person voting to June 9, 2020. The order also directs the Legislature SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
to meet in special session on Tuesday, April 7, 2020 to address the election date. If the legislature does not enact legislation to change the new election date, in-person voting will occur on June 9, 2020. “Today, I signed an executive order suspending in-person voting for tomorrow’s election. Frankly, SEE VOTING, PAGE 6
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College students face diversity as classes move online BY MARISSA CHAMBERLIN
Editor’s note: Marissa Chamberlin is a photography and journalism student at the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh who is submitting articles while home from school due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
College students are missing out on the experience of attending the college or university of their choice. Going to classes is a significant part of ones learning experience and it’s important to be able to communicate and work with other students and professors. Instead, due to COVID-19, students find themselves unable to attend face-to-face classes. They’ve been forced to leave campus
and take classes online from home leading to social isolation restrictions that are not normally a part of the college or university experience. Many students studying the arts, music, science, nursing, sports and other programs are having a hard time going from face-to-face to online classes — for some this is a first time experience. This is a big change, especially for those who are less inclined to use technology as a main part of their learning. Taking online courses that are created to be in person courses, set up unique challenges. Often a course will have a lab or group projects that now have to be reconfigured to allow for social distanc-
ing as well as distance learning. In person versus online learning are completely different experiences. “I am not a fan of going from faceto-face classes to online classes,” said Kayley Bruce, who attends the University of Wisconsin -Oshkosh. “We miss the classroom discussion and some of the campus support resources are gone.” Bruce is especially affected by this change as a student with learning disabilities. “I had a resource called Project Success that helped me with my school work,” she said. “Now like many other students, I have to work closely with my professors about finding SEE CLASSES, PAGE 6
CHURCH: Services offered outside during pandemic FROM PAGE 1
chosen by the FM adapter. The congregation tunes into that frequency on their car radio and are able to hear the service. It’s the same system used by those fancy Christmas light displays set to music that are sometimes seen in neighborhoods with too much time on their hands around the holidays. The services began on March 22 and have run every Sunday since. A normal Sunday service at Bethesda Lutheran sees around 110 members in attendance. So far the drive in services have averaged around 50 cars per week. “So attendance it pretty similar,” Rimmereid said. “And we’ve actually had a few visitors I’ve noticed.” Rimmereid said the service helps people stay connected with their faith, but that it’s also simply a way for people to get out of the house. “I think people were encouraged that they could still come to church,” he said. “But I also think they’re just stuck at home and it’s something for them to go do.” Although they’re still together in the same space every Sunday, Rim-
mereid said it’s difficult to not be able to physically see most of his congregation during a sermon, as they’re all stuck behind windshields. “In our size church I know who’s there every Sunday,” he said. “So it was really hard the first week of drive ins to not even know who was there.” He’s since taken to running a lap around the parking lot to wave at everyone before starting the sermon but said it’s still difficult to not be able to interact with those in attendance. “Church is not just something you consume, it’s something you’re part of,” he said. “And this kind of service is very consumer based.” Even so, the services are much more rewarding than a virtual alternative, Rimmereid said. “We call the church the body of Christ,” he said. “Everyone is a part. The idea is when we’re all together we’re vital to each other and I think this helps that idea of fellowship. So even to come together in some way is helpful.” Amy Allram has been a regular at the drive in services and attends with her husband Chad and their two children Brodie and Faith. She said the
bond the congregation has is stronger than it would be with an online service. “Even though we’re not shaking hands or anything like that, there is something special about being there together,” she said. “It’s a totally different feeling.” The service is especially intriguing for her kids, who love the idea of coming to church in their pajamas. “We put the back seats down and they bring their blankets and their breakfast,” she said. “They snuggle in and hear the word, and they love it.” Myra Bader is a longtime member of Bethesda Lutheran and said she’s very excited that Pastor Rimmereid came up with the idea. “Even though we can’t have conversations between the next car, we’re still being inspired,” she said. “No matter what happens around us, God is always with us.” Rimmereid echoed this sentiment during his sermon on March 29 and urged his congregation to be a force of good during the pandemic. “The world is in kind of a dark place right now,” he said. “So how can we be a light in this situation.”
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& Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, all gatherings of 10 or more are being curtailed. If there is an event you were attending, please call to see if it is occurring. The Out & About page will return when this restriction is lifted, hopefully
ARNELL MEMORIAL HUMANE SOCIETY
I hope you are reading this from the safety of home. Most of us are sharing this pandemic home-time with our family and if you are lucky, furry friends. They are a bright spot in an isolated day and with more time on our hands, we have more time to appreciate their unconditional love. They don’t understand the new routine and why we aren’t leaving for work at the regular time each day; they can’t even fathom the reason for this windfall. Our pets are using this opportunity to reap the benefits of time together. I know my dog Ollie sure is. He is enjoying the extra time spent chasing the tennis ball in the yard, napping next to us in the window seat in the afternoon and cashing in with his sad eyes for extra petting. And we are thoroughly enjoying his unique input in our daily lives. When all of this is behind us and life returns to “normal,� we will delight in dinner with friends and loved ones. In this “down� time, businesses are losing income that keeps them afloat. Hopefully, restaurants and businesses will be able to weather the storm and reopen. Life as we knew it may not be the same. It is the same for local non-profits. Without “business as normal� operations, donations are more important than ever to the life of a non-profit. On April 28, the 24 hour online fundraising event, giveBIG St. Croix Valley will be your chance to make a difference where you live. Through GiveBig St. Croix Valley, you will be able to donate to nonprofits that enrich our lives every day. Nonprofits serving our communities touch nearly all areas of our lives by providing food, clothing, transportation, shelter and health care, maintaining trails, conserving the St. Croix River and supporting stray and abandoned animals at Arnell Humane Society, in need of a second chance. It’s easy to do and luckily, your donation can be made from the safety of your home. Visit the online giveBIG web page at: giveBIGSCV.org. There you will be able to see the non-profits that support our community in so many ways. While giveBIG St. Croix Valley happens in 24 hours on April 28, your investment
will have a long lasting impact in our communities. In the past seven years in the St. Croix Valley region, giveBIG has raised more than $1.7 million for over 130 nonprofits. What is so unique about giveBIG is the dollars raised in those 24 hours stays here in the St. Croix Valley, directly impacting the very communities we live and work in. On the 28th of April, you have 24 hours to make a BIG impact on our community by donating to your favorite nonprofits. Donations can be made online from 12 a.m. to 11:59 p.m. on Tuesday, April 28 or made in advance at giveBIGSCV.org. Donations to Arnell Humane Society can also be mailed to the shelter in advance of the Day of Giving. Simply write giveBIG in the memo line of your check: AMHS, 185 Griffin St East, Amery, WI 54001, and we will be sure to add your donation to our goal of $15,000. With the help of our friends and community, Arnell will be able to meet the need for litters of kittens born during this time of social distancing, will be able to find new homes for abandoned pets, will be there to reunite families with a stray pet. When life returns to “normal,� the need will be doubled or tripled. If you can give, please join us on April 28th for giveBIG St. Croix Valley. Arnell Memorial Humane Society.
CASEY SILL | THE SUN
Shannon Busick drops off meals for area students as part of the Osceola School District’s meal delivery service.
Osceola School meal delivery service hums along BY C.L. SILL EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The Osceola school district is continuing meal delivery service as the shutdown resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic stretches into April. The meal service is now feeding nearly 700 students two meals a day, over 40 percent of the district’s roughly 1700 total students. The meals are delivered by a fleet of ten buses and their drivers, along with a team of school employees in each bus to help organize the effort. Meals are also available to pick up for around 30 families who are within walking distance of the district. Steve Leslie, the transportation coordinator for the Osceola School District, said the service is running smoothly. “We think it’s going very well,� he said. “People are still signing up.� Two school employees,
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a ‘prepper’ and a ‘hopper,’ help out the drivers on their routes. The prepper organizes the meals for each stop in the bus while the hopper runs them to the curb. Leslie said the teams have been doing a great job. “The drivers have a very positive attitude and people are really appreciative of what the drivers and people on the bus are doing for them,� he said. “And parents are doing a great job of following social distancing.� The food itself is prepared by the kitchen staff early in the morning. School nutrition director Susan Mayer said they always begin their day by sanatizing their workspace. “I have two head cooks that get in at 6 a.m. and they start with a wipe down of everything just to make sure we’re starting off disinfected,� she said. “And then we set up the assembly line.�
to do the same thing.� Besides providing meals, the delivery service give students a chance to see some of their teachers and other school staff everyday, which can be just as important as students continue to miss out on face-to-face interaction at school. “That’s a big deal for them, there’s lot of excitement,� Steve Leslie said. “There’s a special ed student who dresses up in different garb every week and stands out and waves at people as they go by. So everybody’s having a lot of fun with it.� The most credit according to both Leslie and Mayer belongs to the kitchen staff who prepare the meals each morning. “They’ve just been so willing to think outside the box and do what it takes to get this done,� she said. “They’re working really, really hard right now and they’re doing awesome.�
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Meals vary from day to day just as they would if the students were eating in school. Breakfast is typically ‘grab and go’ style with lunch being more of a complete meal. The district still has to adhere to national nutrition guidelines so the nutritional value of the meals is just as high as it would be normally. Supply shortages haven’t been an issue for Mayer so far, but she said that is a concern as the shutdown continues. “We’re trying to utilize what we already had on hand but we’re running out of pre-packaged items,� she said. “So we’re looking at having to package up our own vegetables or look at microwave safe options.� If food shortages do begin to mount the district will simply have to continue doing the best they can. “We’re all in the same boat,� she said. “Every school district is trying
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2020*
S
unday is Easter, a time of celebration and renewal for Christians who mark the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Son of God. It’s one of the most sacred days on the Christian calendar and affirms the faith of followers of the promise of eternal life. Easter is also a time for family dinners and egg hunts. During my childhood it was one of the few times of the year we received candy, so I have very fond memories of coming down Easter morning to find a plate of candy. There were six children in my family, so a paper plate worked quite well in place of a basket. Easter, like many things recently, will look very different for many families. With the coronavirus pandemic necessitating stay at home orders, we are all looking at different ways to be together, but not together. Technology has helped, with the and smartphones allowPublisher internet ing many to see and hear each other. Technology has become Tom Stangl more and more entwined in our lives to the point it has become an encumbrance to many, a virtual “buttinski,” limiting the ability of some to communicate directly with others. With folks being forced to stay home, the internet is a connection to work, school, shopping, church and loved ones. But even with the entire virtual world at our fingertips, we long for human interaction. But much of this will be delayed by necessity. The length of time of social distancing appears to be an ever changing target as the rates of infection change daily and as more is learned about the virus and potential treatments. When you look at records in sports or history and there is something out of the norm, it is noted by an asterisk *. The mark means you need to look to the bottom of the page to learn what’s unique about the listing. 2020 will be the king of the asterisk. Schools closed. Public gatherings restricted, then all but outlawed as public health officials try to get ahead of the pandemic. Professional hockey and basketball end their seasons, the NCAA basketball tournament is cancelled. Winter high school sports tournaments are cancelled. Spring high school sports are delayed as officials hope social distancing will slow the rate of infection. The Summer Olympics are delayed a full year. That’s a lot of asterisks for the sports record books, with more to come. I’m sure you all have personal and professional events in your life that will now have an asterisk as well. Easter Sunday 2020 will be one of them for sure. It should be noted that in some literature, curse words are published with some of the letters substituted with asterisks. You can still make out what the words are, it just makes them seem a little less vulgar. I think we all probably have a few words we are feeling about the current situation that could use some asterisks. But I don’t think every asterisk has to be a bad thing. Sometimes, they have positive connotations, like when new records are set or landmark events occur. In our everyday lives, firsts are happening. Parents are spending more time than ever with children, pets are being appreciated more than ever. So while 2020 may have a lot of negative connotations, we need to focus on the positive ones. They are worth noting with an asterisk as well. 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.
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’ve started to struggle a little with this pandemic in the last week. The odd-ness of the world we’re living in is very frustrating. It seems like the story changes every day and I can’t tell if we’re underreacting or overreacting — and either way it’s maddening. The uncertainty of it is most frustrating. We’re all anxious to know things —know Editor how bad the virus will get, when it C.L. Sill will peak, what kind of shape the economy will be in when it’s all over, blah, blah, blah. We’re in limbo right now. If this were a story in the Bible we’d be in purgatory, awaiting our fate. I feel a little guilty saying that. Complaining about my life being difficult while I still have food in my belly and a warm place to sleep at night is downright ignorant. When we were kids my dad loved to say “some people don’t have food” whenever we’d complain about pretty much anything. We
rolled our eyes at the time but as an adult that saying has really left its mark on me. I know how good I’ve got it and try my best to never take that for granted. So with Dad’s words ringing in my ear (I just realized that makes him sound like he’s dead — he’s not) I’ve been biting my tongue all week, trying not to complain about my still mostly amazing life. Although she hasn’t mentioned it, I’m sure Erin appreciates my effort. She thinks I complain too much as it is, virus or no virus. She says I’m always telling her what’s wrong with the world, and for the most part she’s right. I can arm-chair quarterback with the best of them and she puts up with my “this is the way things ought to be” soapbox rants that even the dogs won’t listen to. Erin is a hairstylist at a’ la Mode salon in Hudson, so she’s been laid off for about three weeks now. I wasn’t sure how she’d handle losing her job, even temporarily. But she’s been wonderful about it and is doing her best to keep busy. When she is working, she puts in a lot of evening hours, so we sometimes don’t get to see each other much depending on her schedule.
As difficult as it is to have her not working, I’ve realized one of the unintended benefits of coronavirus is getting to spend a lot more time together. Erin is wildly funny, which might come as a surprise to people who don’t know her very well. She has this goofy, self-deprecating sense of humor that can run the gamut from witty to slapstick. I’ve always loved how genuinely she can make me laugh, and we’ve sat on the couch or at the kitchen table and laughed more in the last month than we have in a long time. We’ve been working on the house together, cooking together, doing everything together. In that regard this pandemic has been an incredible gift. Naturally there’ve been a few arguments here and there about what to watch on TV or how, after 29 years on this planet, I still don’t understand that the good knifes do not go in the dishwasher. But for the most part we’re having a great time in quarantine. One evening last week I was cutting back a briar patch on the edge of our yard. Erin was sitting on the SEE SILL, PAGE 24
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YEARS AGO
ST. CROIX VALLEY SENIOR CENTER
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ell, not a whole lot to write about this week, no cards have been played for a while now, so no winners or losers. We have been meeting via the phone to discuss things. We still have the bills to be paid and regular business to take care of. We have decided to make some improvements in the building, using the monies that have been Columnist donated to the center by memoriPat Willits als and gifts from various people and businesses that has been just waiting to be
used. We have to work one person at a time in the building. One at a time, we will give the building a good cleaning and fixing up and go through some of the things we have accumulating over the years. We are hoping that by the time May meeting comes along we can be back to normal, if not we will hope for June for our annual meeting and time to renew memberships or join for the first time. We would really like to have some of the younger seniors join us and help keep interesting things going on at the center. It is a wonderful building to have meetings, classes, private parties and just to stop and have coffee and visit with friends. Playing the various card games is great, but we have dominoes, all sorts of board games too. Just
bring a friend or two and help yourselves to the games. We usually have puzzle going. At least we have sunshine and milder temps, so walking the dog is a pleasant way to get a little exercise. There are a few brave souls out in the fresh air usually, we are careful to keep our distance from each other and just wave a greeting. We pray that this virus will just miss us here in Polk County and that it will begin to slow down now or soon at least. Take care to do all that the authorities ask us and hopefully that will keep us safe here at home. Pray that people around the world will be able to do the same. We are located downtown St. Croix Falls at 140 N. Washington. Phone: 715-483-1901.
POLK COUNTY MASTER GARDENERS
H
elp! I’m confined to home and going crazy. We all are feeling like the world is in chaos. The kids are home when they should be at school. We can’t visit friends when we want to. We don’t want to get anyone we know sick, but we feel like we’re going Columnist crazy not being able to leave the Julie Kuehl house. Don’t pan-
ic. You can still get out and work in the yard. You can still start getting ready for gardening. Today I spoke with friends at Bergman’s in Clayton, Dragonfly in Amery and Abrahamson’s in Scandia and they all assured me that their greenhouses are full of beautiful seedlings just waiting for warm weather so that we can fill our planters and gardens with lovely flowers and veggies. They are still figuring how the logistics of sales will be handled, but all assured me they would do their best to find a way.
With this great news in mind, let’s think about getting ready to plant. As promised earlier, here are some thoughts about planting those containers. Can containers be both gorgeous and practical? The short answer is “yes.� If you either don’t have the space or don’t want the work involved in maintaining a large garden, why not try container gardening. Containers can be used for growing everything from the standard flowers to many vegetables.
something about us. There are apparently people who can’t stand the idea of having their back facing traffic (as I do) I guess because they worry someone might sneak up behind them. (Peter is not that sneaky.) There are people who like to be in the middle of the room and others who like pinning down a corner. I like to face the window and see out as far as I can—which isn’t all that far, but I can see the sidewalk on both sides of the street and that keeps me entertained all day. Mostly, it’s dogs I am watching and lately there have been more to watch. People are walking their dogs as never before. I am sure the dogs are puzzled and delighted. Whereas it used to be this chore that was done quickly early in the morning or late at night, (“Come on, Rex, let’s get this over with!�) Now more walks are happening in the middle of the day and, as often as not, the whole family comes along and makes an event out of it.
Happy dogs are leading the pack with mom, dad, and a couple of kids in tow. The dog is saying, “This is so great! Everyone came on my walk with me!� One dog in particular I’ve been watching for lately. Her name is Daisy and she’s an old dog. Her owner comes jogging by himself at mid-day. He doesn’t run fast, but he runs too fast for Daisy so, later in the day, he goes for a walk with Daisy. Daisy is very stiff. She stops a lot. She spends a lot of time sniffing things. (I’m pretty sure she’s just resting when she does this.) I watch for Daisy every day, making her slow progress down the sidewalk. Yesterday, I just couldn’t help myself. Daisy and her owner were walking by on the far side of the street. I went downstairs and called out, “Daisy! How are you, Daisy?� Daisy froze in her tracks. Daisy’s vision isn’t that great but her hearing is fine. To my surprise, Daisy’s owner
SEE GARDENING, PAGE 15
THE POSTSCRIPT Daisy crosses the street
M
y desk faces the window and that is where I spend most of my time. I spend about as much time at my desk as I do in my bed which is, conveniently located about thirty feet away. It’s a pretty short commute and there’s rarely traffic. Occasionally, my husband Peter might be Columnist coming or going from the bathCarrie Classon room, but that’s about it. Once a day, I take a walk in the woods but the rest of my time is spent sitting at my window. My life used to seem kind of odd—and sometimes a little lonely—but it appears I was a trendsetter. Now, it seems, everyone is working from home. I read how different people like to orient their workspace in different directions and how this says
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50 years ago April 9, 1970 • Production has been underway at Osceola High School for the past month for the spring play, Diary of Anne Frank. • Thirty-two boys answered Coach Ruhsam’s call for spring track. Only six are returning lettermen. • Incumbent Harold Bishop polled 102 votes in the election April 7 to retain his seat on the Osceola Village Board. • Mr. and Mrs. Harris Doll joined other relatives at the home of Mrs. Calvin Doll to celebrate the twins’ 10th birthday. • Mrs. John Bierman accompanied Mrs. Art Andren to Minneapolis on Wednesday where they spent the day. • Twenty-ďŹ ve friends of Mr. and Mrs. Stuart Nelson surprised them last Friday evening for a house-warming party at their new home which they recently built on River Road.
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30 years ago April 4, 1990 • Osceola’s Emergency Medical Technicians for the second time in three years were presented with the WITC Emergency Services Division Distinguished Service Award. • Osceola High School Badger State representatives were Tracy Handrahan and Adam Hafdahl. Alternates were Tammy Gear and Sean Faulk. • After more than 42 years of service to the River Valley Medical Center and St. Croix Valley Memorial Hospital, Fred. B. Riegel, MD, is retiring from active service. • If Governor Thompson does not veto the provisions in a bill now on his desk, Polk County will receive another circuit court judgeship beginning Aug. 1, 1991. • Nancy Swenson was chosen April Employee of the Month at Ladd Memorial Hospital. • Carpet Center located in the Stocker building in Osceola is holding a grand opening March 26-April 7.
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Ben Pierre-Johnson, ďŹ rst; Kevin Hanley, second, and Kurt Green, third.
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10 years ago April 7, 2010 • Rehab began on the 243 bridge in Osceola. It was completely closed from April 27 to May 27. • Darren Nelson of Dresser ďŹ led candidacy papers to run as a write-in for the Village of Dresser board. • Mom’s Amish Kitchen planned to open the basement of the Corner Square building in Osceola. • Emma Dressel, Laurel Wright, Mackenzie Gearin, Catie Heebink and Lindsey Gearin placed ďŹ rst at the regional Destination Imagination competition and would compete at state April 17. • Sarah Carufel and Ryan Schoenborn from Osceola placed ďŹ rst in their division in the junior varsity event at the national powerlifting meet at Wisconsin Dells. • Tevin Pittman of Osceola planned to play football for North Dakota State University in the fall. • Osceola all-conference basketball players were Paige Garriga, Andrew Rohlman, Lisa Rydeen, Tevin Pittman, Jessica Martell and Tyler Pauley.
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P.O. Box 8952 • Madison, WI 53708 (608) 267-2365 or 1-888-534-0028 • Fax (608) 282-3628 Rep.Magnafici@legis.wisconsin.gov
Senator Patty Schachtner 10th Senate District State Capitol, P.O. Box 7882 • Madison, WI 53707 (608) 266-7745 Sen.Schachtner@legis.wisconsin.gov
NO CALL LIST 1-888-382-1222 or website: datcp.wi.gov
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THE SUN
APRIL 8, 2020 www.osceolasun.com
FROM PAGE 1
officials solidified the need to help out. “They are doing everything they can to get their equipment ready and everything else possible,� he said. “It’s going to be a big hurdle for them.� Bob Wolf, the director of community engagement at the Osceola Medical Center, said they’re incredibly thankful for Emison’s generosity. “This offer from Bill, is a wonderful offer,� he said. “No doubt about it.� Wolf said the community at large has been very supportive of the hospital as it readies for COVID-19 to impact the local area. “We’ve been experiencing tremendous support from the community already,� he said. “That support is an amazing thing for the health of our community.� Emison echoed that statement, and said the chance to give back at a time like this is an incredible opportunity. “Giving — if it’s a buck or a million bucks, it’s a joy,� he said. “This is our legacy right now, it’s happening right in front of us.�
CLASSES: Colleges move online FROM PAGE 2
resources I once had with face-to-face classes.� UW Oshkosh student Chase Lowen echoed Bruce’s statement. “My opinion is that online classes aren’t as effective as face-to-face because with face-to-face instruction, you can communicate with people without having to worry about technological failure,� he said. “And even if technology does fail, there are other alternatives.� While students and professors are faced with challenges regarding learning formats, they find they are resilient and can overcome what comes their way. They’re all excited for everyone to be healthy and for their learning experience to go back to “normal —yet they understand there’s a new “normal� coming their way.
SILL: Good things to come FROM PAGE 4
deck sanding spindles we’d taken off to refinish. I stopped for just a second and watched her work in the fading sunlight. I smiled and laughed under my breath about how intense she looks when she’s really concentrating on something. There was no grand epiphany or cloud-parting moment that made me realize some clichÊ about how wonderful my life was. It was a small moment that came and passed on a cool evening filled with signs of spring — and of good things to come. As always, I welome your comments. You can reach me by email at editor@osceolasun.com, telephone 715-294-2314 or write me at P.O. Box 248, Osceola WI, 54020.
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‘Can’t spare a square’ Local retailers struggle with shortage of toilet paper and other essentials BY C.L. SILL EDITOR @OSCEOLASUN.COM
A woman turned heads at Dick’s Fresh Market in Osceola last Wednesday as she strode down the aisle with a package of white, round rolls of plushy looking fabric under her arm. Excitement dampened as she came more clearly into view and shoppers realized all she was holding was a few measly rolls of paper towels. Grocery stores and other retailers all across the country are struggling with supply shortages of many essential items. Hand sanitizer, bleach, cleaning supplies and most notably toilet paper have all disappeared from shelves. “We haven’t been able to put a finger on it,� said Tim Adams, the manager
CASEY SILL | THE SUN
Single roll toilet paper on sale at the Marine on St. Croix General Store.
of Dick’s Fresh Market. “I honestly don’t know why people focused on (toilet paper) so much.� Whatever the reasoning, Adams is now scrambling to restock toilet paper, along with many other items he’s
now without. He said panic buying of these items began as soon as news of COVID-19 hit Wisconsin. “It started right away,� he said. “Within two or three days we were wiped out.�
That’s even after Adams got a special shipment of toilet paper in anticipation of people stocking up. “Anticipating there being a problem, we got like 8 SEE TP, PAGE 16
VOTING: Governor Evers suspends in-person voting Tuesday FROM PGE 1
there’s no good answer to this problem—I wish it were easy. I have been asking everyone to do their part to help keep our families, our neighbors, and our communities safe, and I had hoped that the Legislature would do its
part—just as the rest of us are—to help keep people healthy and safe,� said Gov. Evers. “But as municipalities are consolidating polling locations, and absent legislative or court action, I cannot in good conscience stand by and do nothing. The bottom line is that I have an obligation to keep people safe, and
that’s why I signed this executive order today.� All ballots already cast in the 2020 Spring election will remain valid and will be tallied in conjunction with the new in-person voting date.
Wisconsin health official says COVID—19 curve is attening MADISON, Wis. (AP) — Wisconsin’s chief medical officer for communicable diseases said Friday that data on coronavirus infections continues to show that the state is “flattening the curve.â€? Dr. Ryan Westergaard first said on Monday that there were positive signs with the slowing increase in COVID—19
cases, a message he repeated again Thursday and Friday. “We are flattening the curve,� he said. He called it a “glimmer of hope that what we’re doing is making a big difference.� Wisconsin is under a stay—at—home order which has resulted in the closing of schools and all nonessential businesses. Confirmed cases of
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COVID—19 have gone up each day this week between 10% and 14%. But that is a lower increase than what earlier models, based on projections through the first half of March, were showing, he said. As of Friday, there were more than 1,900 confirmed cases in the state and 37 deaths. Even with the positive
news, state health officials have said Wisconsin may not hit a peak in cases for weeks and they won’t project when it will be safe to loosen the limitations on movement and allow businesses to reopen. Gov. Tony Evers’ emergency order for people to remain at home runs through April 24, but could be extended.
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WEEKLY MEDITATION
OBITUARIES
The week before Easter BY JACK STARR OSCEOLA UNITED METHODIST CHURCH
The week before Easter is a difficult one. I realized that as soon as I became a pastor that this week included 3, 4 or 5 very different services to prepare, services ranging from 2 or more celebratory services on Easter and Palm Sunday to the grief and sorrow of Good Friday. Even Maundy Thursday with its tender intimacy and thoughtful service has an underlying note of sadness. All that sadness can be tiring. I’ve long known it wasn’t an easy week. But that’s not a problem, it’s just a lot of work and it’s good work There are many others who have a lot harder time with this week. Holy week may not be as big as Christmas but it is a holiday and families have traditions, many that they share together. And when a family loses a loved one and is facing a first Easter without them, the day becomes truly painful. This year the pain is a lot like that. This week our holy days are attended by grief. We continue to be isolated from one another by the fear of a mysterious illness and we feel the loss pretty deeply.. This is a week in which people of faith want to be with one another as we share the Lord’s Table, reflect on the cross and celebrate the joy of resurrection. How often have we remarked to one another how everything seems so strange and different. This year things seem out of sorts. The week before Easter wasn’t a good week for Jesus either. And it wasn’t just the last couple days. I like to think of Jesus’ ministry as being winsome and exciting, full of vitality and joy. All kinds of folks flocked to him to hear his stories and be blessed by his presence as he healed and taught and demonstrated a hearty and generous grace. A core group of people committed time and energy and their whole lives to being apprentices, his disciples. Being with him filled their lives with wonder
and awe; so much so that they began to talk openly about things that had only been whispered in secret or silenced completely. Could it really be the time of the Messiah? They dared to imagine that it might be possible, not in a distant future, but here and now. “Master, when you come into your kingdom….” But as you read the text, during this week, the energy, optimism and joy seem to be steadily leaking out of the movement. The week even began with a discordant note. In the middle of a procession proclaiming him as the God-sent deliverer, an event marked by spontaneous acclamation, Jesus bursts into tears. There seems to be something darker underlying this event. And there is. Jesus knows what will be happening the coming days. He knows how he will suffer. But these tears aren’t for himself. They are for Jerusalem. They are because he can see the decades and centuries of grief and sorrow fated for the city because it rejects the blessing of shalom in favor of violence and hatred. It is incapable of recognizing when God is on the move. The choice of the people to turn their backs on Jesus and his message will have dire consequences and Jesus can see it. The joyful procession into the Holy City ends in a lament. The early days of the week are further marked by antagonism and conflict. The way he fulfills ancient prophesies angers some religious leaders. The way he bested them in debate offends others. On one hand, the Sadducees and leading priests lined their purses with kickbacks from the sales in the temple courts. They needed to silence his condemnation of their operation. On the other hand the Pharisees who might have taken pleasure at the discomfort Jesus gave the priests could not. They hated him for undermining their coveted position as the honored and respected spiritual leaders of the nation. How many times had he called them out as blind guides, whitewashed tombs, and hypocrites. The questions become accusations,
the debates, confrontation and condemnation. The scribes, teachers of the law and Pharisees were proud people and knew he had to be stopped. People said that only a miracle could bring the Sadducees and the Pharisees together. That miracle turned out to be Jesus as they conspired together to kill him. We know many of the stories of the end of the week. We know about the Last Supper and the mess of emotion that attended the meal: Jesus disappointment in the quarrelling of his followers, the awkwardness of him washing their feet, the sobering and confusing pronouncements about his death and a betrayer and a denier and the failure of everyone present. We know about Jesus agony in the Garden of Gethsemane, the injustice of the Sanhedrin, the fickle rejection of the mob, the cruelty of the soldiers, the callous disregard of Pilate and the brutality of crucifixion. More than any other event, teaching or scripture it is in these 24 hours from Thursday until Friday evening that Jesus earns his identity as the suffering servant from Isaiah 53. “A man of sorrows, acquainted with grief. The litany of that passage is all we need to know about those 24 hours. Our Savior knows isolation. He understands fear and knows pain of all sorts. He has experienced uncertainty. Every bit of it. He went through it. Including death. And even as he personally went through the agony of his torture and crucifixion he was experiencing grief for others. For those, who in spite of all that he was doing for them, would not see. It is important for us to know that whatever we are experiencing, Uncertainty, fear, loss, isolation, discouragement and frustration; Jesus did to. It’s important for us to know that Jesus also experienced resurrection. And we can too. There is victory over the darkness. Sunday may seem to take a long time but it is coming.
Robert Cottor
Robert (Bob) Cottor died peacefully April 4, 2020, at his home in East Farmington, (Osceola). He was 92. Robert was b born to Edward a and Adelia (Laund dry) Cottor on M March 12, 1928, iin Somerset. He g grew up on his ffamily’s farm n near the Rice L Lake Flats. Robert met h his future bride, M Myrna, at a dance iin Plourdes Bar, iin Somerset. He m married Myrna Springer at Assumption Catholic Church, in East Farmington, on July 29, 1950. After their wedding they rented the Germain farm in Somerset. On May 1, 1953, they bought their farm in East Farmington, where they resided until his death. Robert also achieved Fieldman position with Vigortone Feeds, and two of his sons continued farming the family farm. They attend Assumption Catholic Church in East Farmington. Robert was preceded in death by his parents, Edward and Adelia Cottor; brother, Raymond (surviving spouse Regina); sister, Doris (Edward) Jahnke and granddaughter, Deanna. Robert is survived by his wife of 69 years, Myrna; son, Richard (Kathy), daughter, Donna (friend Edward Handrahan), son, Daniel (Donna), and son Gary; grandchildren, Kristin (Casey Kelly), Richard Jr, Kahlyn, Danielle (Dan Loney), Donita and Alex (Ashley); great-grandchildren, Sara and Mia; also, his beloved animals, Felix and Flossy. Memorials will be donated to Alzheimer’s Association. Private Interment St. Mary Cemetery.
BIRTHS OSCEOLA MEDICAL CENTER Osceola, Wisconsin April 1, 2020: A girl, Celine Celeste
Melcher, weighing 7 pounds 11 ounces, to Megan and Barry Melcher, Osceola.
CHURCH LISTINGS Following guidance from the Centers for Disease Control, all gatherings of 10 or more are being curtailed. Please call to see if church services are being held in some capacity. ALLIANCE CHURCH OF THE VALLEY 1259 Hwy. 35 South, St. Croix Falls 715-483-1100 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 110th 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. at Osceola High School Auditorium.
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 715-755-3113 ———————— 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 – OSCEOLA Pastor Mark Barlow 722 Seminole Ave. Osceola 715-417-0752 ———————— 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 2098 70th Avenue Pastor Nile Merseth ———————— 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 Nate Roschen 715-294-2112 • 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: 715-417-0945 ———————— NEW WINE COMMUNITY CHURCH
309 5th Street, Centuria Pastor Scott Petznick (715) 338-8912 ———————— OSCEOLA COMMUNITY CHURCH 2492 Education Drive, Osceola Larry Mederich www.osceolacommunitychurch.org ———————— OSCEOLA MEDICAL CENTER SPIRITUAL CARE 2600 65th Avenue, Osceola https: myomc.org/wellness/ spiritual-care 715-294-2111 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 Pastor Melissa Carmack Find us on Facebook! peace@centurytel.net ———————— 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 ———————— RIVER VALLEY CHRISTIAN CHURCH LIGHTHOUSE 1289 160th Street St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin 715-483-5378 Pastor Jonah Fetzer ———————— 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 Ran Yoo Pastor Kooko Kim ———————— ST. CROIX UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST FELLOWSHIP 201 N. Adams, St. Croix Falls www.scuuf.org Rev. Kelli Clement ———————— 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 ———————— SHEPHERD OF THE VALLEY LUTHERAN CHURCH MISSOURI SYNOD 140 Madison Street St. Croix Falls Pastor Mark Schoen 715-483-1186 ———————— TRINITY EV. LUTHERAN CHURCH (WELS) 300 Seminole Ave., (Ct H M) Osceola 715-294-2828 • www.trinityosceola.com Pastor David Rosenow (920-645-7526) ———————— TRINITY LUTHERAN CHURCH OF GARFIELD 1578 85th Ave., Amery Pastor Lori Peper 715-268-9577 ———————— WEST IMMANUEL LUTHERAN (ELCA), 447 180th St., Osceola www.westimmanuel.org Interim Pastor Matt Saarem SUNDAY: ———————— WORD OF LIFE FELLOWSHIP Cliff Bjork, (651) 465-7373 366 Bench St., Taylors Falls, Minn. ———————— ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH (Wisconsin Synod) East Farmington Pastor William Brassow (715) 294-3489
These Church listings are sponsored by the following concerned and responsible businesses and industries. They deserve your continued support and patronage! 108 Cascade Osceola www osceolasun com www.osceolasun.com
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8
AND OUTDOORS THE SUN
APRIL 8, 2020 www.osceolasun.com
Wisconsin high school spring sports remain on hold BY RON JASPERSON SPORTS WRITER
The Wisconsin high school spring sports remain on hold as the coronavirus devastates the state, the nation and the world. Vigilance concerning the virus is the top priority. Covid-19 has already drastically affected most of our lives and it appears that things will get worse before they ultimately improve. The high schools in the state are shut down in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The last few months of the high school careers for the seniors are not what anyone envisioned months ago. Winter sports came to a sudden end during the basketball tournaments and the spring sports season is currently on hold. This is tough for all, but especially for the senior class. The Osceola boys and girls track and field teams looked to have a great chance of capturing another Middle Border conference title this spring. The boys have won four straight MBC crowns while the girls have won two in a row and six of the last seven. With the season in limbo the athletes can only wait and see if they will have a chance to display their skills that they have worked so hard to hone. “This situation is really tough for me any the rest of the team,” senior Blake Slater said. “This team is so talented and has so much potential. At this point, we just have to do our part to make this whole thing pass through quickly so we can get the most out of this
Blake Slater.
season. Last year, I was an alternate for a State 4 X 800 team. This year, my goal was to help that team get back to the State meet and post my best times yet. It does help to know that this isn’t just happening to me and the senior class and this team; it’s happening to athletes all across the country. We’re all in this together.” “I had many goals for the upcoming season,” Gearin said. “I was most excited about competing as a whole team and the potential we have. Even during these unprecedented times I have continued to train by myself and have encouraged my teammates to do the same. I’m disappointed with not being able to compete so far in the season but am grateful for my coaches and teammates who have shown me unconditional support.” The Osceola baseball team has a promising roster of talent and experience. Josh Schultz got varsity experience last season as a junior and is looking forward to what 2020 can bring. “It’s hard to put into words what it feels like to have your senior season perhaps being canceled,” Schultz said. “It is one of the saddest things to hear and deal with. I just want to have the opportunity to step onto the field and play with the guys I’ve been playing with for the last 10 years or so, and the thought of that being taken away is heart wrenching to hear at the very least. I hope I get the opportunity to play with them again.
Caroline Gearin.
SEE SPORTS, PAGE 9
Hahns Huebsch.
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
Ari Backlund.
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
Josh Schultz.
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
Mikayla Quigley.
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
Drew Willeman.
APRIL 8, 2020
THE SUN
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Spring turkey season begins April 15 All regulations remain in effect under Safer At Home order Gov. Evers’ Safer at Home order recognizes outdoor activity as an essential activity. As such, the 2020 Spring Turkey Season will proceed without changes to the season dates or management zones under the Safer at Home order. Due to COVID-19, distance is critical. Social distancing - the practice of always staying 6 feet away from others outside of household members is vital to help slow the spread of COVID-19. Turkey hunting in Wisconsin is designed to minimize hunter contact and is usually a solitary outdoor activity. All current regulations for the season apply. Licensed hunters should hunt the zone and period stated on their harvest authorization. “Hunting and fishing provide us an opportunity in interact with nature. Hunting and fishing traditions run deep in Wisconsin,” said DNR Secretary Preston D. Cole. “It’s these traditions that allow us to have a moment of normalcy during this extraordinary time. Remember to be more than safe.” There are still turkey hunting permits available at this time in five of the seven management zones covering most of the state. This provides opportunities for people to select new zones to
SPORTS: Season on hold FROM PAGE 8
reduce travel distances and stay closer to home. Permits are available online. The remaining permits are generally for later in the season, which is an excellent opportunity to spend time in the woods during the spring season when the hunting can also be very good. All sales directly benefit critical conservation efforts including developing, managing, preserving, restoring, and maintaining the wild turkey population in Wisconsin. Hunting with household family members is still allowed under the emergency order. Social distancing applies to mentored hunts. Because mentors must be within arm’s reach of their mentee, the need for social distancing prohibits hunters from mentoring someone outside of their household. We encourage all spring turkey hunters to adhere to the Safer at Home order’s guidelines regarding social distancing. If you encounter a fellow hunter or any other individuals while out hunting, provide at least six feet of space to pass. Spring turkey periods run for seven days each The 2020 spring turkey season will run April 15 - May 26, with six seven-day periods beginning Wednesday through the following Tuesday. All seven turkey management zones will be open for hunting. Youth turkey hunt set for April 11 - 12
WI DNR
Three male tom wild turkeys and female hen.
Youth under the age of 16 may hunt during the spring youth turkey hunt April 11 - 12. Hunters under the age of 12 and youth without hunter safety can participate in the youth turkey hunt under the Mentored Hunting Program. Youth must be accompanied by a qualified adult and follow the youth turkey hunting and mentored hunting program rules. Under the Safer at Home order, mentors and mentees should be from the same household. Youth hunters must possess a valid spring turkey license, stamp and harvest authorization. A harvest authorization for any time period can be used during the youth hunt weekend, but youth hunters must hunt within the turkey management zone indicated on their harvest authorization. Regulations, harvest registration information
and other helpful turkey hunting information can be found at dnr.wi.gov. Under the Safer at Home order, we must do all that we can to prevent the spread of the COVID-19. The public should stay as close to home as possible and avoid travel outside of their community to help flatten the cure. This is a rapidly evolving situation. For the latest updates, visit the DNR website, dnr.wi.gov, or follow @WIDNR on Facebook, @wi_dnr on Instagram, or @WDNR on Twitter. For specific information regarding the COVID-19 we encourage the public to frequently monitor the DHS website for updates, and to follow @DHSWI on Facebook and Twitter, or dhs.wi on Instagram. Additional information can be found on the CDC website.
When is it time?
I
’m getting a lot of calls and questions of late regarding ‘when?’ Sticking to outdoor themes, these “when questions” are an annual thing that revolve about not being too late. You never want to hear that age-old response of, “You should have been here yesterday.” Every spring the first when questions I hear are about crappies coming into the shallows. These are usually followed by when certain fish spawn. This year with an earlier spring caused by the lack of March snowstorms I’m getting questions about when is time to start planting the garden. Can I plant seeds yet? My specific when question is when are the pair of wood ducks that just walked through my yard going to nest? Hopefully right here in my yard! Ice out crappies are always on my list. Every spring when black bottom shallow bays get hit by that warm Wild River spring sun, crappies make pre-spawn runs. Minnows and early insect Trails hatches will draw those crappies in Jim Bennett shallows to feed and warm up. So,
what are the water temperatures of those bays right now? We stuck a thermometer into a small lake across from my house that holds perch, pike and crappies. We found that the shallow water temp was a balmy 28 degrees. I wondered how that could be possible and not freeze. Earth Science reports that special circumstances come into play for that to happen without ice forming. Evidently when you have snow or ice melt occurring when night temperatures are below freezing, it can happen. Add upwellings from underground, moving springs below freezing, similar to rivers that can have water temperatures below freezing but not freeze, ice doesn’t form. Add a wind factor, sleet, snow and cold rain to get a water temperature of 28 degrees. I’m watching all of that happen from my window, Friday, April 3, after we took that water temperature. Crappies will move into the shallows when the bays warm to a temperature above the mean lake temp, but spawning is an entirely different question. Walleye spawn first at 38 degrees, sauger 40, perch SEE BENNETT, PAGE 11
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My biggest goal this year was to be the MBC player of the year, but I also had much smaller goals that included simply having fun with my teammates and enjoying the moments we were going to make together.” The Osceola softball appears to be in a position to climb the MBC ladder if the season can be played. The Chieftains have some great senior leadership and some talented underclassmen. “I am very sad about my senior season being postponed or cancelled,” Mikayla Quigley said. “Softball was really my go-to sport and I really am disappointed that I will not be able to complete my senior season being a four year letter winner. I’ve always looked forward to having my senior year with all the perks and senior night that I will never be able to experience now. With the team that we were going to have this year, we had a lot of potential that we could have used and we had a good opportunity of placing well in the conference. I will definitely cherish all of the memories that I have been able to make being a part of the softball team. I wish that I could’ve had my one last time out on the field knowing it was.” The Osceola golf team placed third in the MBC last season before ending their season at the Sectional meet. The Chieftains did not lose a single varsity golfer from the 2019 season and certainly were looking forward to big things this season. “Last year being my first year representing Osceola golf went way better than I had planned,” Drew Willeman said. “This year I was really looking forward to the competition part of golf along with spending time with my team. Having our entire varsity team returning really helped to give us big goals for this year. I think we could have finished very high up in conference and really showed our strengths in post season play, both individually and as a team. It is definitely a heartbreaker but it drives me to get better on the course and treat every round as if it was my last.” The Osceola tennis team also has a lot of talent coming back if the season can somehow be salvaged. The MBC always seems to
be strong in tennis but the Chieftains have the experience and talent to see if they can make a move this spring. “The uncertainty surrounding tennis this year, just like with most things right now, is
‘I am very sad about my senior season being postposed or cancelled. Softball was really my go to sport.’ Mikayla Quigley OHS Senior pretty disappointing,” Hahns Huebsch said. “As a team, we had lots of freshmen planning to join, so our numbers this year were going to be strong. For us seniors, we were planning to end our high school tennis careers on a high note and really give it our all this season. But, even if tennis is cancelled this year, you can bet we will still be back on the courts as soon as life goes back to normal, just enjoying the sport we love so much.” The Osceola soccer team was anxious to get things rolling with a new coach at the helm. The Chieftain team would be built around returning seniors Ari Backlund and Emily Fox. “This season was supposed to be a good one,” Backlund said. “We had an amazing line-up of talented girls with potential to win many games and perhaps go further than we have before in play-offs. Unfortunately the soccer season was cancelled and as a senior I was extremely disappointed. I’m not the only one, however — the rest of the team expressed their feelings of frustration, and we are doing our best to cheer each other up with uplifting messages over our group chat.” These times are unique for all of us. We know that the big picture is very concerning and that we all have to do our part to get it behind us as quickly as possible and hope that we can stay healthy and get our lives back. We all know that this is the big picture but one still cannot help but feel a little more saddened for the senior class.
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APRIL 8, 2020 www.osceolasun.com
How to protect dogs from Lyme disease Lyme disease is a potentially dangerous condition transmitted by the passing of bacteria from deer ticks to their unsuspecting hosts. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says Lyme disease is the most common vector-borne disease in the United States. Lyme disease also is a cause for concern in Canada, parts of Europe and Asia. Tens of thousands of people are diagnosed with Lyme disease each year. But Lyme disease also affects animals, including popular house pets like dogs. Tufts University says that the Lyme bacterium can cause serious illness in some dogs. Lyme disease can be difficult to detect and causes serious and recurring health problems. That is why it is essential for pet parents make concerted efforts to reduce the risk that their dogs become infected. The American Veterinary Medical Association says
the best way to protect pets against Lyme disease is to emphasize prevention. • Speak with your veterinarian about a tick preventive product that is right for your dog. These can include repellant collars, topical treatments and ingestible medications. • Vets may recommend vaccination against Lyme disease if you live in an area that is home to high tick populations. Recommendations also may be based on your pet’s lifestyle and overall health, among other factors. • Address conditions in the yard that are conducive to ticks. Mowing the lawn regularly is one way to make the backyard less attractive to ticks, as is removing leaf litter. • Keep a clean home and landscape. Rodents and other wildlife can carry deer ticks. Securing trash cans, picking up food scraps, removing hiding spots and potential
dens, and other strategies can keep these carriers away. • Conduct a daily tick check if your dog spends time outside. Pay attention to bumps on the skin and part the fur so you can see where the coat meets the skin. Don’t forget to look in the ears. • When possible, avoid areas where ticks may be found, such as tall grasses, wooded areas and marshes. Stick to trails when spending time in wooded areas. Dogs with Lyme disease may exhibit various symptoms. These include loss of appetite, fever, joint swelling, decreased activity, and lameness. Visit the vet promptly if symptoms occur and do not abate, or are causing considerable distress for your pet. Lyme disease is a concern for pets. Avoidance, preventive measures and outdoor maintenance can help reduce the liklihood that pets will contract Lyme disease.
Getting to the heart of pet parasite prevention Pets rely on their owners to look out for their physical well-being. Many serious health issues can afflict pets, and parasites are a common cause of illness and discomfort. Of all the parasitic worms dogs, cats and other companion animals may acquire, heartworms may be the most concerning. Heartworm disease can result in lung and heart failure, other organ damage, and potentially death. Heartworm disease is caused by a bloodborne parasite known as Dirofilariaimmitis, offers the U.S. Food & Drug Administration. It is spread through the bite of a mosquito. Dogs are often the host of choice. The parasites infect the dog, mature into adults, mate and produce offspring all while living inside the animal. Cats are atypical hosts for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive the adult stage.
While heartworm infection has been reported in all 50 states, it is most common along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts. Heartworms also can occur in the warmer regions of Canada where summer temperatures are high enough for the worm larvae to survive inside carrier mosquitoes. Once inside a new host, it takes approximately six months for the larvae to develop into sexually mature adult heartworms, advises The American Heartworm Society. Once mature, heartworms can survive five to seven years in dogs and up to two to three years in cats. Each mosquito season can increase the number of worms in infected pets. Prevention is key to ensuring the health of a pet. Adult heartworms can infect the heart, pulmonary artery and adjacent large blood vessels. A blood test can reveal whether a pet is
affected by heartworms, as early infection may not yield noticeable symptoms. Apart from keeping pets away from mosquito-heavy areas, pet owners will find that annual heartworm testing as well as monthly prevention medications can provide the protection needed to keep animals safe. Heartworm preventives must be purchased from a veterinarian or with a prescription through a pet pharmacy in the United States. Check requirements for those living in Canada. The FDA warns that the treatment for heartworm disease is not easy on the dog and it is costly. Treatment can be potentially toxic to the dog’s body and can cause serious complications, such as the development of life-threatening blood clots in the dog’s lungs. Preventive medicines can reduce pets’ risk of developing heartworm.
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BENNETT: When is it time to see and do your favorite things? FROM PAGE 9
44, northern pike 48, muskie 49, paddlefish 50, smallmouth bass 59, striped bass 60, crappie 62 with largemouth bass and sunfish above 62 degrees. Right now lakes in our region are around 40 degrees according to the USGS. When it comes to gardening, I try to get in root crops where I live in St. Croix County by April 15 and the rest of my garden by May 1, weather permitting. Onion sets can go into the ground when night
lows are above 30 degrees. Potato cuttings should not be planted until the ground reaches 40 degrees. I checked both my garden and raised garden soil temperatures April Fools Day and found both at 50 degrees. The hardiest seeds that will germinate in soil temps in the 30s are leeks, endive, garlic, lettuce, mustard, spinach and radishes. Soil temps in the 40s will germinate seeds of beets, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, collards, kale,
peas, Swiss chard and turnips. Seeds that need a 50 soil temperature include asparagus, sweet corn and tomatoes. A 60-degree soil temperature is what you need to grow beans, eggplants, cucumbers, muskmelon, peppers, pumpkins, squash and watermelon from seed. You don’t want that water to freeze! Jim Bennett is an outdoorsman who lives and worked in the St. Croix River Valley and can be reached at jamesbennett24@gmail. com
HOROSCOPES
ARIES – Mar 21/Apr 20 This is the week to take charge of your overall health, Aries. If you haven’t been feeling so well, now is the time to visit a doctor and get back on track. TAURUS – Apr 21/May 21 Taurus, if you have your heart set on an art project but can’t find the time, figure out a way to make it happen. If you commit to finding the time, your efforts will pay off. GEMINI – May 22/Jun 21 Gemini, now is the perfect time to get up and get outside. Fresh air, sunshine and physical activity are long overdue, and they can infuse you with positive energy. CANCER – Jun 22/Jul 22 Cancer, do not get frustrated with a close friend if he or she seems less ambitious than you. Everyone works at his or
CLUES ACROSS 1. Canadian law enforcers 5. Actor Idris 9. Cut or bruise 11. Vegetables 13. Aircraft delivery 15. To make obsolete 16. Things similar to those already noted 17. Columbus is a famous one 19. Age group 21. Denotes nature of sound 22. Klutz 23. Uninteresting 25. Computer manufacturer 26. 2,000 lbs. 27. Genus of seabirds 29. Emerges 31. Baseball stat 33. Witnesses 34. Observed 36. Satisfy 38. Former OSS 39. Small Eurasian deer 41. Wife of Sparta’s king 43. Ballplayer accessory 44. Temporary cessation of breathing 46. Where construction workers ply their trade 48. Arguments that justify a religious doctrine 52. Thick cloud of tiny water droplets 53. Widens 54. Detection 56. Period of inactivity 57. Tomato and vodka are two 58. Greek war god 59. Urinates
CLUES DOWN 1. Churned 2. Seal bottles 3. Million barrels per day (abbr.)
her own pace and may not have the same focus as you. Be patient. LEO – Jul 23/Aug 23 Use good relationships with loved ones and friends to organize group activities. Such outings will strengthen your already strong bonds with the people you love most, Leo. VIRGO – Aug 24/Sept 22 Virgo, if you have not been exercising regularly of late, now is the ideal time to get back in the action. Embrace the physical and mental benefits of being active. LIBRA – Sept 23/Oct 23 Let your ambition guide you this week, Libra. Spend the week mapping out strategiess. Once you have a plan on paper, you can work towards executing it to perfection. SCORPIO – Oct 24/Nov 22 Do not have a moment’s
hesitation when taking on a project or spearheading plans this week, Scorpio. Your organizational skills are right for the job. SAGITTARIUS – Nov 23/Dec 21 Sagittarius, this week should go well for you. Expect to feel a renewed energy and harbor a more positive outlook. Use this to your advantage in your career. CAPRICORN – Dec 22/Jan 20 Ambition is creeping up on you and it cannot be ignored, Capricorn. You have the time now to devote to any plan of action, so don’t be afraid to go all-in. AQUARIUS – Jan 21/Feb 18 Aquarius, do not be surprised if you wake up feeling super this week. Chances are this renewed strength and energy has something to do with better lifestyle habits.
PISCES – Feb 19/Mar 20 Pisces, the cosmos puts an end to any lethargy you have been feeling. Use this opportunity to be active and pursue new goals. FAMOUS BIRTHDAYS APRIL 5 Pharrell Williams, Singer (47) APRIL 6 Candace Bure, Actress (44) APRIL 7 Russell Crowe, Actor (56) APRIL 8 Matthew Healy, Singer (31) APRIL 9 Kristen Stewart, Actress (30) APRIL 10 Sofia Carson, Actress (27) APRIL 11 Alessandra Ambrosio, Model (39)
Stuck in the “Vanilla” Twilight Zone
I
’ve had a really hard time writing the last couple weeks. I feel like I have nothing to say or any worthwhile advice on cooking. It’s hard to come up with a new recipe that will inspire people to cook when you don’t feel like cooking yourself. I know I’m not alone, because my Instagram and Facebook feeds are filled with bland recipes. Vanilla cake, bread, plain doughnuts, cinnamon rolls with vanilla frosting, vanilla cheesecake, rice crispy bars, chicken and rice and pasta with bland cream sauce. I even called my brother for Wild Chow help and asked him what he was cooking for dinner. He was makLisa Erickson ing creamed tuna on toast! What happened to all the green salads, vegetables, and chocolate? Go look for yourself—it’s weird. Before I got laid off, a coworker said, “It’s like waking up and every day is Friday the 13th on the Twilight Zone.” Yes, it is. Come out of it we must. There is nothing wrong with baking and cooking bland or comforting foods. I love them, too. At some point we will be back to craving vegetables and chocolate, but until then vanilla cake and with vanilla sauce it is. Dairy Cake with Vanilla Dream Sauce Serves 12 2 1/2 cups cake flour 2 Tbsp. buttermilk powder 1 Tbsp. baking powder 1/2 tsp. salt 2 large eggs 1 3/4 cup sugar 2 tsp. vanilla extract 1 ½ cups half and half or whipping cream Preheat oven to 325º. Spray a 9x13-inch baking pan with cooking spray; set aside. In a medium bowl combine the flour, buttermilk powder, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In another bowl, beat the eggs with a hand mixer for about a minute until nice and frothy. Add the sugar and beat until the mixture is thick. Add the vanilla. Alternate adding 1/3 of the dry ingredients to the batter and then 1/2 of the half and half until combined, stirring after each addition. Pour batter into prepared baking pan. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until golden brown and inserted toothpick comes out clean. While the cake is baking, prepare the sauce. Vanilla Dream Sauce 3⁄4 cup sugar 1/4 tsp. salt 2 Tbsp. cornstarch 2 egg yolks 3 Tbsp. butter 2 cups whole milk 2 tsp. vanilla In a saucepan, mix the sugar, salt, and cornstarch. Slowly add the milk while stirring constantly with a whisk. Cook over medium heat and stir constantly, until thick and smooth; about 7-9 minutes. Remove from heat and cool for 5 minutes. Add egg yolks while whisking quickly. Return to heat and bring to a low boil. Remove from heat and whisk in vanilla and butter. Cool slightly and serve warm spooned over Dairy Cake. Lisa Erickson is a food columnist who loves adventure and food. You can find more recipes at www. wild-chow.com or email her at wildchowrecipes@ gmail.com.
4. Meat from a pig (French) 5. Within 6. Walk in a slow pace 7. Cries 8. About Andes 9. Fishermen use it 10. Expresses delight 11. Shouts 12. Feudal agricultural laborer
14. Sailboat 15. Small Eurasian willows 18. S. American native people 20. Extreme disgust 24. Nonsense (slang) 26. Produce male reproductive cells 28. Computes 30. Pop singer 32. Weds secretly 34. Having two poles 35. Yankee hero Bucky
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37. Building 38. Per __, each 40. Six (Spanish) 42. Makes amends 43. Scoundrels 45. Baseball’s best pitchers 47. Some are scrambled 49. Emit coherent radiation 50. Singer Redding 51. Break 55. Institute legal proceedings against
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Drop locations at Family Fresh in New Richmond, Balsam Lake Hardware in Balsam Lake, St. Croix Laundry in St. Croix Falls and Horse Creek Store.
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Powering Our Community During COVID-19 As our nation responds to COVID-19, we know the most important thing we can do to help, is to keep your power on. Co-op lobbies are closed to keep employees and the community safe, but our drive-thru, phone lines and website are open. We are here for you. #PowerOn
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102 Services Custom Furniture refinishing, stripping and repair. Do it right, reasonably. The Cellar Door, Taylors Falls, 651-465-5551. Erickson piano service. Bryan Erickson Tuning-RegulationRepair 715-463-5958 \ 507-475-2584 Problems with your car insurance? Tickets? Accidents? Been canceled? Call Noah Insurance for help at 715-294-2017. RESUMES copied for free if you have been laid off and looking for work. Stop in at The Sun, 108 Cascade, Osceola.
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The Amery Housing Authority is seeking a part-time kitchen supervisor at its Evergreen Village facility. This person will oversee and perform lunch serving duties and clean up for the catered lunch time meal. The meal is served cafeteria style to the elderly residents. You will assist residents with getting their meal and deliver some to the tables. You will be responsible for the after meal clean up of the lunch room as well as the kitchen. We require one year food service experience with knowledge of safeserv certification. Supervisory experience preferred. The hours for this position are Monday – Friday 11am – 3pm. and most Holidays.
HELP WANTED
NEW BUILDING SITE For Sale - 1 and 105 acres. Country lots – Osceola Dresser area. 715-755-3377
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SCRMC launches CroixCares Virtual Health platform Even through these difficult times, St. Croix Regional Medical Center continues to move forward with our overarching mission of helping people live healthier, happier, and longer lives, and our vision to transform from quality sick care to quality well care that is sustainable and affordable. SCRMC has been focused on developing methods to take care of ALL of our patients’ medical needs in a manner that is safe and sustainable for
not just our current situation, but beyond this pandemic. We are proud to launch our patient-centered virtual platformCroixCares. CroixCares brings our providers to a living room, care from the convenience of a favorite chair. The majority of visits will be converted to virtual visits and the care team will continue to deliver the same quality of care as an in-person visit. This helps protect both patients and staff. Visit scrmc.
Delivering Your Community
org to learn more and for instructions on how to schedule an appointment. St. Croix Regional Medical Center is a not-for-profit healthcare facility located in St. Croix Falls, WI dedicated to helping people live healthier, happier, and longer lives. SCRMC offers the services of 80+ providers and 20 specialties with five community clinics all supported by a critical access hospital on the main campus in St. Croix Falls.
<www.osceolasun.com> ...Easter egg hunts in our back yards!
We’re really excited about having...
Newspaper Fun! www.readingclubfun.com
Kids: color stuff in!
Annimills LLC © 2020 V16-14
“Hoppy” Easter!
10
chocola
te
I enjoy delivering Easter baskets. People say that I am as quick as....well...a bunny! I have strong back legs that allow me to jump as high as three feet and as far as nine feet. See if you can read the clues below to fill in this week’s puzzle about me and a couple of other favorite “Easter” animals. Hop to it!
children
12
4 1
rabbit
3
Germany 2 5
life
6 cards
baskets
bonnets 11
9
chick
8
1. The Easter Bunny is a young ________ . 2. No one is sure how the Easter Bunny started his work, but it is thought that he “hopped” across the ocean with the people who came to America from ________. 3. It is believed that the first bunny-shaped treats were made out of pastry and _______. 4. Today, milk, dark or white ________ bunnies are a favorite treat at Easter. 5. Many families hard-boil, dye and decorate ________ to eat or to hunt at Easter. 6. The Easter Bunny delivers ________ full of treats to children for Easter morning. 7. Easter baskets began with children leaving their hats or ________ to be filled with treats by the Easter Bunny. 8. The Easter Bunny hides colored eggs for ________ to hunt! 9. Another popular Easter animal is the soft, yellow, peeping ________. Yay! I get 10. On ______ they are often shown popping to help with the out of eggs or sitting in baskets. eggs this year. 11. A woolly, soft, white baby ________ or kid is often shown as a cake. 12. Baby animals are signs of new ________ in the springtime.
lamb
7 eggs Whe w!
sugar Gosh! I don’t like to complain, but shouldn’t we be the ones who get to deliver the eggs?
There are four sets of eggs that are exactly the same. Can you find and circle the 2 identical eggs in each set?
Lo o I c k wh an at do !
Have You Ever Seen? A Basket Full of Fun and Surprises! In Australia, some families are choosing this chocolate animal for Easter celebrations rather than a chocolate rabbit. This animal is native to Australia whereas the rabbit is not. Wild rabbits were brought to Australia by settlers for food. Rabbits have grown in large numbers and compete with this animal for food. About the size of a rabbit, this animl carries its young in its pouch. What is it?
What kinds of treats might the Easter Bunny put in baskets to delight children on Easter morning? Unscramble the letters to fill in the blanks. s c 1. __ __ __ __ __ __ __ and coloring book r a n y o
__ __ __ __ __
5. story __ __ __ __
libyb
What on Earth is that? Hey, it’s me in chocolate!
2. small toy car or __ __ __ __ __
k! Quac
k cr t u
3. __ __ __ __ __ tickets m e v o i 4. __ __ __ __ __ book m o c c i o o b k 6. box of __ __ __ __ __ c a k l h 7. stuffed __ __ __ __ __ __ n a l m i a 8. rubber __ __ __ __ b l l a 9. jump __ __ __ __
o r p e
Find and M A circle these C R favorite V C Easter candies B in the basket: L O 1. malted eggs 2. cream-filled eggs 3. marshmallow chick 4. chocolate bunny 5. jellybeans
R E Y C A I W Z
S A N V P E O I F
H M N O W J I U S
M F U D O E N N G
A I B S Q L F O G
L L E P R L D R E
L L T O U Y S G D
O E A I G B U N E
W D L Q F E I J T
C E O W U A B I L
H G C E S N R O A
I G O N I S Q W M
C S H F E O I
K M C R
SEE ANSWERS, PAGE 15
APRIL 8, 2020
THE SUN
15
www.osceolasun.com
MOVIE REVIEW
GARDENING: Get ready to garden
Parasite
FROM PAGE 5
Let’s start with the typical containers we are used to seeing – those with flowers. There are of course several methods that can be used to get those full, gorgeous containers you see in the garden centers. You can purchase them already done for you – but this will come at a higher cost. They will still require the same type of watering, deadheading and nipping back that flower containers you do yourself require. If you chose to create your own containers, you need to make sure your container has good drainage. Most plants do not like their feet to be constantly wet. Decide if you want a hanging container or one that will sit on the ground or in a stand. This year I am experimenting with stacking various size containers to make a pyramid. This is done by using three larger pots (each one a bit smaller than the first). This is one way to create a little design element to your containers. You must also decide if your container is being done for a sunny or shady area. This is necessary to determine the types of plants to use. Just as when we plant an in-ground garden we need to carefully read the tags to be sure our plants will play well together in our container. I like to use MiracleGro with soil moist when I do containers. I’ve found that this seems to work well for me. Whatever type of potting soil you chose to use, make sure that your plants are kept fertilized throughout the season to keep them blooming profusely. I like to use Soil Moist in my potting soil to help with the amount of watering I need to do during the summer. Remember not to overfill your containers with the potting mix. Allow enough room to be able to water without the water running over the edge of the container. I follow the ABC’s of planting when doing my containers. “A” plants are taller and go in the center of the pot; “B” plants are medium height for the next area and to fill out the container’s center portion; and “C” plantings are the trailers for the overflow of the edges. Plants should be planted fairly close together to get that full look of the nursery planters. When planting your container you might consider planting a container for pollinators. Use any plants in the daisy or mint families or those which produce large quantities of flowers throughout summer. Don’t forget that you can grow many veggies - such as tomatoes, bush cucumbers, peppers, and most herbs in containers. You may want to try a combination of flowers and veggies or herbs. Until next time keep your hands washed, your distance from others and stay safe. We’re all in this together. Are there topics you would like to hear about? Send me an email at gardenvarietycolumn@gmail. com.
servants for a rich family (the Parks). All is going well, until their fraud is threated with being exposed. I was blown away by this movie. Parasite reminded me that the best things about movies are the characters and the plot. Even though 1917 has a lot of wonderful elements and a very unique film perspective, it actually pales in comparison to the plot, characters and overall execution of Parasite. If the name Bong Joon Ho sounds familiar it’s because he directed the film Snowpiercer starring Chris Evans, which has been a staple on Netflix since it was released in 2013. Bong Joon Ho has a nice way of layering his movies, so that the action on screen, the dialogue, the scenery and the music all play to the same point and feelings. At the heart of Parasite is a social commentary on how different class structures interact. I love character driven movies and this is one great character/family driven movie. All the characters in this film are well fleshed out and have distinct personalities. The actors take these characters and run with them. My favorite actress was So-dam Park who plays Ki Jung. Her performance
W
hen I watched the Academy Awards this past February, I was coming off my viewing of 1917 and was sure due to its innovative approach, compelling characters and thrilling plot it would sweep the Academy Awards. I was sort of shocked when Parasite, a film I vaguely heard about, had that Contributing honor instead. Over the next Writer couple of weeks I went Paul Backstrom whenever into Target, I checked out the recent release section to see if I could snag a copy to see what all the hype was about. However, each week I left disappointed and since I had plenty of movies in the theater to review, I sort of forgot about it. This week on a whim, I decided to buy the movie on Apple TV and see what all the fuss was about. Parasite was directed by Bong Joon Ho and is about a poor family (the Kims) in South Korea, who con their way into becoming the
is mesmerizing. Her character straddles being a part of this poor family who is constantly looking for resources just to survive and playing the role of an art therapist for the rich family they are scamming. The plot is also well done. Bong Joon Ho is a master of ratcheting up the tension. There were several times I felt myself cringe or want to turn away as that tension rose. When a film has the ability to do that subtley, it shows how much command the writer has over his or her story. If there is a movie old or new you would like me to review while we are waiting for new films to be released please email me at pastorpaulbackstrom@gmail.com and put in the subject line of the email, movie review. Thanks, and stay safe! Overall, I would give this movie an A (A Great Movie). I can definitely see why this film swept the Academy Awards. Bong Joon Ho does a masterful job of making a social commentary film that’s relevant for today and is such a compelling piece of story making. If you like character driven movies, you will love this movie. SEE REVIEW, PAGE 16
Homicide suspects arrested in Amery Carr and G Gulley had w warrants iissued from tthe State of K Kentucky a and were c considered “ “Armed and D Dangerous.” T The fugitives w were arreste ed without iincident once llocated. According
BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
According to a press release from the Polk County Sheriff’s Department, their office is currently holding two homicide suspects wanted out of the state of Kentucky. Bruce Carr, 48 and Melissa Gulley, 35 were taken into custody after the two fugitives were arrested in Amery on April 2, around 6 p.m.
Carr
Deputies with executing the warrants were the Wisconsin Department of Justice division of Criminal investigations, Amery police Department, and Clayton Police Department.
to a news release from WTVQ an ABC news affiliate out of Lexington, Kentucky, the Kentucky State Police and investigators in Clay, Jackson and surrounding counties have continued to search for Carr and Gulley in connection with the murder of 70-year-old Elijah Rader, whose remains were found last week. He had been missing since late January. Assisting Polk County
ATTENTION STUDENTS Lake Management, located in Marine on St. Croix, MN, seeks summer workers to perform aquatic services. Candidates will receive all necessary training and licensing. Experience with boats/trailers and GPS systems bene¿cial but not required. If you wish to apply or have questions regarding the position, please contact Mike at
Gulley
POLK COUNTY ARRESTS
Jeffrey Allen Cormican, 51, Hammond, was arrested March 18 for OWI (9th), operating after revocation, failure to install ignition interlock device and a probation hold. Richard Raymond Justice, 60, St. Paul, Minn., was arrested March 22 for OWI (5th). Frederick James Wade, 77, Amery, was arrested March 18 for a probation hold. Samantha Rose Prekker, 23, Rice Lake, was arrested March 18 for failure to appear bail jumping felony and fail-
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ing to dwelling, 72 hour no contact violation and felony bail jumping. Martin Andrew Rieschl IV, 39, Balsam Lake, was arrested March 27 for domestic battery. Gabriel Waylon Wright, 40, Amery, was arrested March 28 for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, a probation hold and a failure to appear warrant. Joseph D. Abbotts, 43, Centuria, was arrested March 28 for possession of THC and possession of drug paraphernalia.
TOWN OF OSCEOLA ANNUAL TOWN MEETING NOTICE TOWN OF OSCEOLA ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE AND PLAN TO ADJOURN The Annual Town Meeting of the Town of Osceola will be called to order at 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, April 21, 2020, at the Town of Osceola Town Hall located at 516 East Avenue North, Dresser, Wisconsin. Due to the current public health emergency, it is anticipated that after calling the meeting to order there will be a motion and vote to immediately adjourn the Annual Town Meeting to May 19, 2020 (as allowed under Wisc. Stat. § 60.11(4)).
NOTICE TOWN OF OSCEOLA Due to the current public health emergency, the Town Board for the Town of Osceola has determined that the April Board meeting has been cancelled. Future meetings will be determined on a case by case basis, and will be posted as required by law and published (whenever possible). Additionally, beginning April 8, the Town Hall will be closed to the public until further notice. If you have a pressing matter, please call the office at 715.755.3060, or email us at clerk@townofosceola.com or treasurer@townofosceola.com. Thank you for your understanding.
651-433-3283 Lo o I c k wh an at do!
A Basket Full of Fun and Surprises! c __ r __ a __ y __ o __ n __ s 1. __
“Hoppy” Easter!
k! Quac
t __ r __ u __ c __ k 2. small toy car or __
4 3 1
m __ o __ v __i __ e tickets 3. __ M A R S C R E A V C Y N B C V L A P O I E W O Z I F
c __o __ m __ i __ c book 4. __ b __ o __ o __ k 5. story __ c __ h __ a __ l __ k 6. box of __ a __ n __i __ m __ a __ l 7. stuffed __ 8. rubber __ b __ a __l __ l
H M N O W J I U S
M F U D O E N N G
Australian b __ i __ l __ b __ y __
A I B S Q L F O G
L L E P R L D R E
L L T O U Y S G D
O E A I G B U N E
W D L Q F E I J T
C E O W U A B I L
H G C E S N R O A
I G O N I S Q W M
C S H F E O I
What is that? Hey, it’s me in chocolate!
C H O
S U G
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8
9 C H
B A B
D S K
H
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Dated April 3, 2020 Tammy Wanchena Osceola Town Clerk
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R __ A __ B __ B __ I __ T __ 18 1 2 2 9 20 __ H __ I __ S 8 9 19
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A Magical Job! P __ U __ L __ L __ 16 21 12 12
5
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r __ o __ p __ e 9. jump __
AGENDA Call to Order Adjournment
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Annimills LLC © 2020
Delivering Your Community
ure to appear possession of THC. Ashley Ann Gunder, 24, Champlin, Minn., was arrested March 19 for Eau Claire warrant (x2), Wisconsin Department of Corrections warrant and a probation hold. Adam Randall Dougard, 39, Clayton, was arrested March 24 for physical abuse of a child and domestic disorderly conduct. Kathleen Kay Huntington, 57, Luck, was arrested March 26 for battery, domestic disorderly conduct, criminal trespass-
O __ U __ T __ 15 21 20
__ H __ A __ T ! 8 1 20
There are three sets of painted eggs that are exactly the same. Did you find and circle the 3 identical sets?
E
N
Whew 7 !
A M B A B O N N E L
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Where is everyone?
16
THE SUN
APRIL 8, 2020 www.osceolasun.com
TP: Toilet paper shortages area wide FROM PAGE 6
pallets of toilet tissue in,” he said. “And before that weekend it was gone.” In addition to toilet paper and cleaning supplies, Adams said canned food also went fast. “Canned vegetables, macaroni and cheese, noodles, soup and all that stuff,” he said. As far as resupplying toilet paper in particular, Adams said his suppliers have not given him any specific timeframe. Not only are the retail locations out, but the wholesalers are also out. “The pipeline is so empty that as soon as retailers get it, it’s gone,” he said. “And it could take a couple of months to fill this pipeline back up.” Across the river in Marine on St. Croix, the Marine on St. Croix General Store is also struggling to keep items in stock. Manager Gwen Roden said she’s been selling single rolls of toilet paper since her supplier ran out. “We’ve actually used a restaurant supply companies in order to receive the single rolls,” she said. “And that’s what we’ve got right now.” Roden said outside of a few items, they’ve been able to keep everything in stock.
“We’ve been able to keep our shelves pretty full,” she said. “The only thing that we really have difficulty getting ahold of is rubbing alcohol, sanitizers of any kind, toilet paper and eggs.” Since she’s unable to get them from her normal supplier, Roden used a restaurant supply company to purchase eggs as well. The eggs were delivered in bulk and Roden has had to crowd source egg cartons from customers to package the eggs for sale. She said when her normal supplier does get shipments of needed items in, they generally go to large retail stores first, before being delivered to smaller businesses like the Marine General Store. “The smaller the business, the less you get,” she said. Even with supply shortages, Roden said the business is doing well for now. “It’s almost like summer business,” she said. “It’s not crazy, but it’s steady.” Roden said continuing to have steady business during this uncertain time has been incredibly helpful. “I’d like to give a big thank you to everyone who comes in and shops,” she said. “It’s kept us alive.”
LAW ENFORCEMENT: Educating about COVID FROM PAGE 1
enforcing any travel restrictions, but are simply continuing the work they do on a regular basis. “We’re going about business as usual,” he said. “If we stop a car it’s because we’ve developed legal grounds to stop it.” Minnesota enacted a shelter in place law shortly after Wisconsin. The state’s order was issued March 25 and went into affect March 27. Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry said his department is handling the situation in much the same way as Wisconsin. They are receiving regular calls from citizens concerned about large groups congregating, but are focusing on educating the groups they come into contact with, rather than issuing citations. “We’ve had those calls. Whether it’s businesses or it’s people that are in large groups out in public,” he said. “What we’re doing is attempting to make contact with those that are in violation and mediate it through education, simply talking to them about the Governor’s orders.” Starry said so far this tactic has been very effective. “So far that has mediated the majority of these calls,” he said. “If that does not work certainly there is an enforcement piece (of the order) and a citation that could be issued, but we’ve not had that and certainly hope that our citizens will simply comply as we go forward.” Starry said he’s very impressed with the response from Washington County residents, especially considering how fast the situation has been changing. “It’s been a short period of time and everyone’s trying to adjust to that new normal,” he said. “So far the public has been great.” Washington County has 51 positive cases of COVID-19 as of April 3, according to the Minnesota Department of Health. Enforcing the law in an area with active coronavirus cases is difficult, especially when that means being in close proximity to people and entering their homes. But Starry said they have to maintain their regular presence in the community.
“Sometimes we don’t have a choice, we have to go in,” he said. “That’s the nature of our job.” Washington County deputies have been issued personal protective equipment (PPE) but have also been given sanitizer and cleaning supplies to keep themselves and their workspace clean. “We want to make sure our employees, their families and those that we are entrusted to care for are taken care of,” he said. Across the river in Wisconsin, local police departments are implementing much of the same safety procedures. Osceola Police Chief Ron Pedrys said his officers are doing their best to be cognizant of the situation and maintain social distancing. “We do social distancing whenever possible,” he said. “In some instances where you have to arrest somebody or there’s a physical or violent encounter obviously that kind of goes out the window.” Pedrys said it’s important people know his department is still enforcing traffic as they normally would. “With a lot of people out and about everyday we want to make sure the motoring and pedestrian traffic is safe,” he said. Both the Polk county and Washington County jail facilities have also heightened safety protocols and improved cleaning efforts in order to keep employees as well as inmates safe during the outbreak. Any resident booked into the Washington County jail will enter a quarantine area and will remain there for two weeks, unless their court ordered stay is shorter than that amount of time. “One thing that we don’t want to have happen is this (outbreak) getting into our jail,” Starry said. “So we’re trying to limit as much of the outside coming into our jail as we can.” As Starry and the rest of the law enforcement in maintaining the law. “I want to be clear, we are still enforcing the law,” Starry said. “Certainly those that need to be arrested throughout the county, the police agencies and sheriff’s office are arresting those individuals.”
Dairy farmers begin to flush away milk WEST BEND, Wis. (AP) — Many dairy processing plants across Wisconsin have more product than they can handle and that’s forced farmers to begin dumping their milk down the drain. That’s the case at Golden E Dairy near West Bend. Farmer Ryan Elbe told WISN—TV they are dumping about about 30,000 gallons (113,562 litres) a day. The coronavirus has dried up the marketplace for dairy products as restaurants, schools and business in food service have been closed. About one—third of the state’s dairy products, mostly cheese, are sold in the food—service trade. “We thought this would never happen,” Elbe said. “Everybody’s rushing to the grocery store to get food, and we have food that’s literally being dumped down the drain.” The Journal Sentinel reported that Elbe’s cooperative, Dairy Farm-
ers of America, for now has agreed to pay them for milk that’s being dumped. But, like most cooperatives, DFA can only afford to do that for so long. Some of Wisconsin’s biggest farm groups are asking the U.S. Department of Agriculture to use money under the federal coronavirus stimulus bill to buy large amounts of dry milk, butter and cheese that normally would go to restaurants and the food—service industry. The groups, including the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association, Edge Dairy Farmer Cooperative and the Dairy Business Association, made their request in a letter to U.S. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue. “Commodity dairy prices have plummeted and will result in milk prices lower than many farms can handle to sustain long—term viability,” the letter said.
For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, and death. Elbe’s parents started the farm with 80 cows in 1991, an operation that has grown to 2,400 cows today. “I think that a lot of milk will all of a sudden be dumped. Everyone across the industry is feeling distressed now,” said Julie Sweney, spokeswoman for FarmFirst Dairy Cooperative in Madison. Farmers’ milk prices gradually returned to profitable levels recently after struggling for more than five years. About 820 Wisconsin dairy producers quit in 2019 alone, a rate of more than two per day.
POSTSCRIPT: Daisy crosses the street FROM PAGE 5
unclipped her leash. Daisy slowly made her way across the deserted street and over to my side of the sidewalk. “Hey, Daisy!” I said, when she finally made it. I pet her gray muzzle and she licked my hands. I looked across the street
to her owner. He’s a quiet, retired fellow. “Thank you,” I said. “Thanks for letting Daisy say, ‘hello.’” “No problem,” he said. “How’re you doing?” I asked. “We’re doing fine,” he told me. “We are too,” I said. “You better go now, Dai-
sy.” And Daisy crossed the street again to her owner. As the arthritic dog limped back across the street, I no longer felt I was alone at all. Till next time, Carrie Carrie Classon’s memoir is called, “Blue Yarn.” Learn more at CarrieClasson.com.
REVIEW: Parasite is an excellent foreign film FROM PAGE 15
love this movie. The acting is tremendous. I was blown away by So-dam Park’s performance in particular but all the actors and actresses deserve high praise for their performances. Par-
asite has more tension than many of the horror and thriller movies I’ve seen over the last couple of years. If you are looking for an awesome movie and don’t mind reading the film since it is in Korean, I would definitely check this movie out.
Parasite is rated R for language, some violence and sexual content. This Academy Award-winning film was directed and written by Bong Joon Ho. Parasite stars Kang-ho Song, Sun-kyun Lee, So-dam Park and Yeo-jeong Jo.