WEDNESDAY, MAY 17, 2017
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 119 NO. 42 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola track team impressive at Rice Lake. PAGE 12
School board seeks new member
Osceola depot turns 100 BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
1917 was an important year for Osceola — and the nation. On April 6, 1917, the United States declared it would fight Germany in the World War. As America prepared, instituting a draft to increase the country’s military might, Osceola was quite literally laying the groundwork for its future. Shortly before President Woodrow Wilson reluctantly called soldiers to battle, Osceola had voted to build a sewage and waterworks system. In May, the Osceola Hotel held its grand opening. St. Joseph’s Catholic Church was dedicated in September. PY’s opened that year, and Zorn Auto and the Larson and Oakey Abstract/Bank of Osceola buildings are said to have been constructed. And although the
railroad depot’s official construction date is 1916, it opened for service in 1917. “It was just as they were registering for World War I, but we had so much growth here it was unbelievable,” said Patricia Kytola of the Osceola Historical Society. Kytola is heading up plans for the depot’s century celebration during Rivers, Rails and Trails Days, the weekend of July 21 (see sidebar on page 17 for details). The depot — built strong with red brick, white sandstone trim, separate waiting rooms for men and women, indoor toilets and heat — was an impressive new station in its day, according to the Osceola Historical Society’s book, “Osceola: A Village Chronicle.” “It was the top of the SEE DEPOT, PAGE 17
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
In late April, recently elected Osceola School Board member Allana Anderson notified the board that she was not able to accept the nomination to the board due to family obligations. Anderson did not immediately reply to a request from The Sun for further details. The vacancy has been posted and the deadline for applicants is May 22. There will be a special open session meeting on May 31 at which the board will elect a candidate. The appointed member will serve a oneyear term through April 30, 2018. Applications and information about the position are available in the District Office.
MERRY VINETTE
The Osceola “Soo” Depot was built in 1916 to replace a smaller wooden structure that was destroyed when two engines collided in front of it. The Osceola Historical Society plans to celebrate the depot’s century of service during Rivers, Rails and Trails Days, July 21 through 23. SUBMITTED
The Brownies at work. Lilah Maki reaches for a plant marker, Emily Tebben and Natalie Betow remove a plant from its pot as volunteer Robyn Foster watches.
Signs of economic promise? Osceola gets way-finding signage BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Way-finding signs were installed throughout Osceola the first week in May. The Osceola Area Chamber of Commerce hopes they’ll help tourists and locals find gems within the village. “We hear over and over that people come to visit and don’t know exactly where things are,” said Germaine Ross, the chamber’s executive director. “And that applies to local people too.”
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Way-finding signs were installed throughout Osceola in early May.
Scouts invite butterflies to Tenth Avenue Park
Though the idea for way-finding signs has been around for some time, the chamber put them high on its to-do list after working with community members to identify Osceola’s assets last year, part of a larger tourism growth project. “We decided it was a huge need,” Ross explained. The group realized that signs could bring attention to the village’s assets, making them easy to find and eliminating “sign clutter.” Once the mission was established, the Grow Osceola design team began reviewing designs with attention to limits set by the
Girl Scout Troop 57474, a group of second-grade Brownies in their first year together, is planting a butterfly garden at the Tenth Avenue “Triangle” Park. The endeavor is part of a Take Action service project through which the girls will earn a Brownie Quest badge, explained troop leader Jennifer Berg. “A little ambitious,” she said, “but we have lots of community support and engaged family members of
SEE SIGNS, PAGE 23
SEE GARDEN, PAGE 17
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
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