WEDNESDAY, JUNE 7, 2017
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 119 NO. 45 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Spring sports season ends. PAGES 14
Plastic pollution prevalent in St. Croix and Namekagon rivers
Danielson secures spot in U.S. Women’s Open BY ABOVE THE FOLD MEDIA SPECIAL TO THE SUN
BY GREG SEITZ REPRINTED FROM STCROIX360.COM
It wasn’t the start Casey Danielson was looking for, but the finish couldn’t have been better. Less than two weeks after receiving the Dinah Shore Trophy as a top collegiate female golfer who also presents leadership and community service, the Osceola native sought entry to this year’s U.S. Women’s Open. Though the start of her two-round attempt at Legends Club put her at an early deficit, Danielson recovered to finish second in the sectional qualifier on Wednesday
The St. Croix and Namekagon Rivers have a plastic problem. Like many waters around the world, synthetic materials are contaminating the Wild & Scenic Rivers. Scientists with the U.S. Geological Survey and the National Park Service recently collected samples from four locations in the St. Croix and Namekagon, as well as in the Mississippi River in the Twin Cities. They made some startling discoveries. “Microplastics”
SEE DANIELSON, PAGE 13
SUBMITTED
After finishing second in the sectional qualifier last Wednesday, Casey Danielson will join the country’s top female golfers in July at the U.S. Women’s Open.
5GYRES |OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
Like many waters around the world, synthetic materials are contaminating the Wild & Scenic Rivers.
were found in every single water, fish, mussel, and sediment sample. Across all locations sampled, smallmouth bass had 17.5 plastic
particles on average, while three-ridge mussels had 6.7 particles per specimen. A cubic meter of water had an SEE PLASTIC, PAGE 13
Osceola students dominate statewide photography competition
SADIE WOLLER | THE SUN
St. Croix Falls graduation
St. Croix Falls High School honored graduates at a ceremony Friday, May 26.
Several Osceola middle and high school students recently won awards in Wisconsin’s 2017 QEI Imageide@s Student Photography Contest. Of the 215 entries in this year’s competition, the students collectively won eight of eleven available prize awards, the most of any school district in the contest’s 10-year history. Students in grades 6-12 are eligible to submit up to five digital images for judging. There are two categories: Middle School (Grades 6-8) and High School (Grades 9-12). Photographs that feature Wisconsin culture, history or geography have an advantage in scoring, though overall photographic quality is the most important factor. Criteria for the contest include the following: Strong Composition: Lighting, PlaceSEE PHOTOS, PAGE 14
SAVANNA NORD
Savanna Nord, eighth grade, won first place in the middle school division for “Wheat.”
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