WEDNESDAY, JULY 22, 2015
Serving Polk County’s St. t Croix C i Valley V ll since i 1897
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Philadelphia Community Farm extends vision as Buttermilk Falls BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Tucked away in the forest southwest of Osceola, a stream of water tumbles down a rocky, slender path toward the river: Buttermilk Falls. Just up the bluff and through the woods, change is stirring and dreams are taking shape at Philadelphia Community Farm, which came under new management in the spring of 2014, when founders Rick Hall and Verna Kragnes retired to Moorhead. Minn. One of the first farms operating under a Community Supports Agriculture [CSA] model in the region, Philadelphia Community Farm has been an incubator for CSAs now scattered throughout the country. “People come, learn
and then go,” said Christina Beck, the nonprofit’s new executive director. But, Beck points out, although the organization is called Philadelphia Community Farm, growing food is only one element of its mission, which extends into life-sharing, land-sharing (part of Standing Cedars Land Conservancy is owned by Philadelphia Community Farm and shared via easement) and community education. Beck, with the help of others, is looking to extend those elements through Buttermilk Falls CSA and Folk School, a new project of the larger nonprofit born during the recent management transition. “We wanted to do someSEE FARM, PAGE 10
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Lindsey Ruder, CSA manager and education coordinator for Buttermilk Falls, explains fallow field rotation. Behind her, a barn moved from the Osceola Medical Center site; the nonprofit hopes to renovate it and extend activities and outreach.
Jury for trial on riverside stabbing will be drawn from out of county BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Jurors selected from outside Polk County will decide whether Levi Acre-Kendall is innocent or guilty at the Cambridge man’s December trial. The decision to draw from outside Polk came from Judge Molly GaleWyrick at a July 15 motion hearing, prompted by a request from Acre-Kendall’s attorney, Eric Nelson. Acre-Kendall, who will turn 20 in November, was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in April after the fatal stabbing of Peter Kelly, 34, St. Croix Falls, on the Wisconsin side of Interstate State Park.
Acknowledging that Acre-Kendall stabbed Kelly, attorney Nelson has made efforts to show that the action was taken in self-defense. At the same July 15 hearing, Nelson contended that the use of force was legal under Wisconsin’s castle doctrine — a law that legalizes force used to defend against intruders in a home, vehicle or business — and asked that the case be dismissed. Nelson said that, according to police reports, the only blood found on the scene was located inside the car and an apparent trail of blood as Kelly ran from the vehicle, indicating that Kelly SEE TRIAL, PAGE 19
F-Bomb sticks to guns SCF council hopes to settle without official action BY SAMANTHA FOUNTAIN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
SUZANNE LINDGREN |THE SUN
Eric Nelson talks with Levi Acre-Kendall. Nelson is lead attorney for the Cambridge teen who was charged with first-degree reckless homicide in April after an argument between fishermen resulted in the death of Peter Kelly, St. Croix Falls.
Area residents packed the house for the July 13 meeting of the St. Croix Falls City Council to weigh in on F-Bomb Ordnance, the tactical firearms and accessories dealer that recently set up shop in a historic brick building, formerly Red Brick Grill, on Washington St. The council was set to discuss whether the shop’s window advertising, which reads “F-Bomb.net,” was in violation of a nuisance ordinance — but first they had to listen as passionate residents took to
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the podium to voice their feelings on the downtown shop. “I’ve put a lot of thought into the situation with the gun store,” said Loreen Clayton-Morrell. “There are three owners. A doctor, a law enforcement officer and a gentleman who lives here with children.” Clayton-Morrell felt the proprietors had to see that a resolution to the issue of signage was needed. “This is not about NRA, guns or the store; we can’t fight the issue of the store, we can only work on one thing, which is the sign. If we end up in court only one party wins.” Clayton-Morrell suggested that the item be tabled to allow for more discussion in hopes that SEE GUN SHOP, PAGE 13
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