Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
WEDNESDAY, MAY 22, 2019 VOL. 121 NO. 43 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola girls and boys track teams win conference meet. PAGE 12
Village of Osceola accepts offer on old library BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
SUZANNE LINDGREN |THE SUN
Osceola High School commencement
Megan Merricks straightens Katie Haase’s cap before the 2019 graduation ceremony Friday, May 17. More photos on page 24.
Remembering ‘history’s greatest war correspondent’ Are you familiar with the work of World War II correspondent Ernie Pyle? During the war, Pyle wrote about the hardships and bravery of the common soldier, not grand strategy. His description of the G.I.’s life was more important to families on the home front than battlefront tactics of generals Dwight Eisenhower, Douglas MacArthur, George Patton or Omar Bradley. His dispatches reached more than 14 million homes. WWII era readers are invited to share memories of reading Pyle’s work with the Sun. Call 715-294-2314 or email editor@osceolasun.com by 5 p.m. Thursday, May 23.
Village will buy land near river The village board gave
SEE LIBRARY, PAGE 10
Discovery Center wins Main Street Award BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Osceola’s Discovery Center was named Best New Building of 2018 at the Wisconsin Main Street Awards in April. The annual award ceremony recognizes exceptional downtown revitalization projects in the state. “It was a proud night for Osceola to be recognized by the Wisconsin Main Street for this building project,” said Germaine Ross, director of the Osceola Area Chamber and Main Street Program, the group that nominated the building for the award. Comprised of a library, SEE AWARD, PAGE 11
NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
The Village of Osceola Board of Trustees accepted an offer last week on the former library building. The buyers, Osceola residents Mark and Lisa Erickson, did not immediately respond to inquiries from the Sun about what they plan to do with the property. The 0.119-acre plot of land, situated adjacent to Mill Pond Park, is zoned commercial. The 2,560 square-foot building was built in 1950. Although the agreed upon price has not been stated publicly, the property was listed for $300,000.
the go ahead May 14 to purchase 0.7 acres just west of the former hospital. The purchase will be funded in part by a $5,000 acquisition stewardship matching grant. Dubbed the St. Croix Riverview Park, the property was originally imagined as an overlook. The board debated whether the property could actually be developed. “I went down and looked at the site,” said Trustee Bob Schmidt. “There are a lot of springs on the site. I don’t imagine it being developed very easily.” “I disagree,” said Trustee Deb Rose. “This piece of property has an old structure on it that could possibly be the
ADVERTISING 715-294-2314 ads@osceolasun.com
SUBMITTED
Representatives of the team that brought the Discovery Center to fruition traveled to Chippewa Falls April 28 to accept the Best New Building award. From left: Gary Beckmann, former village president; Shirley Johnson, a vice chair on the campaign cabinet; Kelly McBride, former library director; Marcia Dressel, secretary of the Mill Pond Learning Foundation board and a member of Osceola’s library board; Mark Kravik, chair of the capital campaign.
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone