WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2019
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 121 NO. 37 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola baseball loses marathon game. PAGE 10
Drama club makes black box debut BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Rehearsing in a pared down “black box” theater, Osceola High School Drama Club members are days from opening their spring 2019 production, “Romeo and Winifred.” When they do, they will perform for an audience seated onstage, with action taking place all around them. “I’ve always enjoyed black box theatre,” said OHS Drama Club Advisor Kevin Carlson. “In my mind I’ve cast about for a facility to do black box with the drama club. About a year ago it occurred to me that we have a facility. We could easily convert the stage into a black box.” The students were enthusiastic about the notion, Carlson reported. “They just dove right in,” he said. “They thought it was a great idea. We talked about the intimacy with the audience and opportunities for audience interaction.” Because of the setup, “Romeo and Winifred,” a parody of William Shakespeare’s “Romeo and Juliet,” might have
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
SUBMITTED
OHS Drama Club students rehearse for April’s black box show, “Romeo and Winifred,” a comic parody of William Shakespeare’s “The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet.” From left: Andy Daly, Hope Lowney, Ariahann Rand, Grace Stewart, Jordan Vetter, Kendall Nord, Jamison Bystrom-Walstead.
a somewhat improvisational feel. It has more of an improv feel even though its not improv,” Carlson explained. “I’ve given them the creative license to do a little bit of that kind of interaction with the audience.” Because of the setup
seating will be a bit limited. “Getting there early would be a good idea,” Carlson advised. “It’s pay what you can. We don’t want finances to hinder people from coming, or coming more than once.”
“Romeo and Winifred” opens Thursday, April 11, 7 p.m. in the OHS Auditorium. Performances continues April 12 and 13 at 7 p.m., concluding with a 4 p.m. performance April 14. Admission is “pay what you can.”
Osceola/St. Croix Valley Railway returns to May season opener BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
After launching its season in June last year, the Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway will return to its typical May launch in 2019. The Minnesota Transportation Museum is bringing back the popular Mothers Day ride, with brunch and dinner trains the Saturday and Sunday of Mothers Day weekend. The year’s schedule emphasizes special events with Fathers Day rides, an Armed Forces Day, and expanded scheduling for Independence Day, fall color rides and the Pumpkin Express. Coach tickets are
Voters say ‘no’ to school district’s levy request
SUZANNE LINDGREN FILE PHOTO | THE SUN
The Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway will launch its 2019 season May 4.
available weekends May 4 through October 26, and the Pizza Train NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
will run on select Saturdays throughout the season.
See www.trainride. org for a full schedule or to purchase tickets.
ADVERTISING 715-294-2314 ads@osceolasun.com
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
Fifty-five percent of Osceola area voters said “no” last week to the school district’s request to increase the local property tax levy. According to the school board’s official count, 1,237 voted against the referendum request April 2 while 1,018 voted in favor. The levy would have increased the levy by $2.75 million over the course of four years. The funds would have been used primarily to maintain operations at current levels. Flyer misrepresents tax increase It will likely never be known whether a flyer distributed in the days before the election influenced the outcome. Some information on the document was accurate, but key figures were exaggerated, more than doubling the projected tax impact on property owners. The flyer listed the final year’s tax increase on a $100,000 home as $412 per year. According to information from the school district, the final year’s tax increase on a $100,000 property would have been $176 per year. Where the flyer asserted the tax impact on a $200,000 home as $824, the district’s calculation was $352. On a $300,000 home the flyer claimed a $1,236 increase, the district $528. The flyers were distributed to mailboxes illegally. SEE REFERENDUM, PAGE 9
Buberl Osceola’s next president BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Residents of the Village of Osceola will have a new president, Jeromy Buberl, beginning April 16. Outgoing president Gary Beckmann did not file for candidacy this year and, running unchallenged, Buberl received 487 votes. His move to the president’s seat will leave a vacancy on the board of trustees. The board will appoint someone to the vacant seat in the new term. Trustees: Incumbent Bob Schmidt (386 votes), new board member Tim Anderson (342) and incumbent Van Burch (339). Candidate Travis Murphy received 207 votes. Outgoing trustee Stephen Bjork did not run for reelection. Town of Osceola SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
Chair: Incumbent Doug Schmidt won 344 votes to challenger Warren Johnson’s 299. Supervisors: Running unchallenged for two seats, Brandon Whittaker (462) and incumbent Mike Wallis (433) won seats on the board. Outgoing supervisor Dan Burch did not run for reelection. Village of Dresser President: Incumbent Bryan “Fatboy” Raddatz, running unchallenged, garnered 119 votes. Trustees: Incumbents Grace Bjorklund (103), Wayne Moberg (96) and Richard Durand (83) were reelected. Candidate Sharon Hendricks received 59 votes. Municipal Judge — Osceola and Dresser Priscilla Dorn-Cutler, incumbent running unchallenged, received SEE ELECTION, PAGE 19
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