WEDNESDAY, MAY 10, 2017
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 119 NO. 41 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Baseball looking for break out week. PAGE 12
Where have all the welders gone?
Community gives big, nearly $250,000
Local businesses aim to increase student interest in trades
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Two weeks after giveBIG St. Croix Valley, the tally for the online day of giving was $246,338, and five organizations had yet to report offline donations such as checks and matching gifts. The online total was about $30,000 more than last year’s $115,529, according to giveBIG organizer Sue Gerlach. “It’s very, very positive,” Gerlach said. “We’re really thrilled with the community’s support of all these organizations.” The event saw a 20 percent increase in the num-
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Sparks flew, hammers pounded and bricks met mortar last week as students from across Polk County tried their hand at welding, driving nails, masonry and other skilled trades. Organizers of the inaugural Construction Skills Career Day, held at the Polk County Fairgrounds, hope the interactive exhibits will increase student interest and remind educators that it’s a viable career path. “We want to expose kids to jobs in the trades,” said Neil Bakke, vice president of Amery-based Monarch Paving. “There’s a shortage of people entering the workforce, and we want to show educators there are good paying opportunities here in the community.” In a 2015 survey of 306 business executives by Wisconsin Manufactur-
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Marissa Gilbertson of Clayton drives a nail at Nelson Construction Services’ exhibit, which included a portable “sleeping shack,” small even for a tiny home, equipped with solar panels and a wind turbine.
ers & Commerce, the state chamber of commerce, 70 percent reported trouble finding employees, listing a dearth of qualified applicants as the predominant reason. Bakke surmised that the problem starts early. “There’s too much focus on every student going to (four-year) college,” he said. “Education is good, but we’re trying to show that
there are opportunities here. They’re local, with good pay and benefits.” Monarch partnered with the Polk County Economic Development Corporation (EDC) and Berghammer Builders to organize the event, building on an earlier idea. “Last year we had a Construction Academy at Monarch,” explained Lori Moen, who handles safety and com-
pliance for the paving company. “This year there are 17 companies here and we’d like to see it grow with more schools and employers.” The event drew about 250 kids, according to Bonnie Fredrickson, who helped organize the event on behalf of Workforce Resource, part of the Polk County EDC.
St. Croix Valley giveSCV.org
ber of individual donors and a 25 percent increase in the number of gifts. “We had 839 individual donors and 1,622 transactions,” said Gerlach. “That shows that the average donor gave more than once, more than likely choosing multiple nonprofits to support. That’s pretty impressive stuff.” Though the numbers aren’t final, Gerlach surmised giveBIG would fall SEE GIVEBIG, PAGE 8
SEE TRADES, PAGE 8
‘Make: A Better World’ Osceola Public Library introduces 2017 summer learning program Readers of all ages are invited to explore STREAM-Science, Technology, Reading, Engineering, Art, and Math. As we celebrate the community and collaborative spirit of the Maker movement, The Osceola Public Library presents “MAKE: A Bet-
ter World” during their summer library program. Activities will include art projects, fun with science, and much more, as well as many events for families and community members to enjoy. The 2017 Summer Learning Program is open to young people, preschool through young adult, with programs, prize drawings, storytimes, library After Hours for teens and more. Registration for MAKE: A Better World begins on June 3 during Rhubarb
Days. For more information, call the library at (715) 294-2310 or visit our website, www.osceolapubliclibrary.org. All programs are free of charge. The Rhubarb Days Festival ushers in the summer season. Be sure to check out all the fun activities we have planned on the Osceola Rhubarb Days website. Or be a part of the fun! Consider volunteering. See: www. rhubarbdays.com.
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Mike Mallin and Todd Waters take down the “giveBIG St. Croix Valley” sign in Osceola.
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