Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2018 VOL. 121 NO. 02 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
ST. CROIX RIVER: Summer recreation on the Riverway. PAGE 17
Discover Wisconsin crew visits Osceola BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
A crew from Discover Wisconsin visited Osceola, Dresser and St. Croix Falls last week to film an episode of the weekly half-hour television program. They kayaked the St. Croix with Andrew Carlson of Riverwood Canoe and Kayak, visited Cascade Falls and tried the aerial courses at Trollhaugen. Titled “Just Off Main Street,” the episode will feature four small Wisconsin towns with an Americana feel, according to the show’s co-host, Mariah Haberman.
BY MARA MARTINSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Patterson
Ritten
Molly GaleWyrick and Judge Jeffery Anderson appointed Ritten to the position of Clerk of
Circuit Court upon the retirement of Lois Hoff.
Jane Maki is stepping down from her post as director of instruction at the Osceola School District. Maki has been a professional educator for 34 years, working in four Wisconsin public school districts: Deerfield, Pittsville, Port Edwards, and Osceola. During this time, she taught kindergarten, first grade, multi-age grades one and two, and third grade. Maki was hired as a first Jane Maki grade teacher in Osceola in the summer of 2000 and held the position of the director of instruction for the last nine years. “As the Director of Instruction, Jane displayed a solid grasp of curriculum and was always well informed of changes at both the local and state level,” notes Superintendent Mark Luebker, who worked with Maki for the past seven years. Maki retired at the end of June, and her plans for retirement are vast. She hopes to reconnect with old friends, spend time with loved ones on a recently purchased cabin on Big McKenzie Lake, become active with the Chamber of Commerce and possibility the tourism committee, explore national parks and major league baseball stadiums, and take an Alaskan cruise. Maki comments that many of the travel locations mentioned are from books she has read and loved. Hobbies Maki will enjoy in her spare time include painting furniture, crafts, rummaging through vintage shops, and decorating. She relays that this interest in crafting and making truly unique pieces has transformed into a business; last November Maki and her sister opened an occasional shop on Osceola’s Cascade Street called Coming Home, specializing in new and reclaimed decor. She plans to expand this business to have more regular hours because they are currently only open the first and third weekends of every month. “I think this will be a fun way to spend some of my retirement years,” Maki remarks.
SEE CLERK, PAGE 11
SEE MAKI, PAGE 11
COURTESY DISCOVER WISCONSIN
SEE CREW, PAGE 11
Discover Wisconsin producer Jessica Murphy films Cascade Falls.
Primary drawing near for Clerk of Courts BY APRIL ZIEMER EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
On Aug. 14 the primary election will be the first step of unveiling who will take the seat as Clerk of Courts. Republican Joanne Ritten and Democrat Jackie Patterson are seeking election.
Ritten Ritten been a longtime resident of Amery with her husband, Tim, and is a proud mother to two adult sons who
Osceola schools’ director of instruction retires
also reside in Amery with their families. Ritten is also a grandmother to 4 wonderful grandchildren. Work Experience Ritten began her career at Polk County in 1989 working in various offices until January 1996 where she continued her profession as a Deputy Clerk. Throughout the years, she worked in multiple divisions within the Clerk of Court’s Office until 2011 when she was appointed as Chief Deputy. In 2012, Judge
Polk County bird tests positive for West Nile Virus Polk County Health Department reports two dead crows have tested positive for West Nile Virus. These are the first birds that tested positive for West Nile Virus in Polk County since surveillance for the mosquito-transmitted virus began May 1. West Nile Virus is spread to humans through the bite of an infected mosquito. Mosquitoes get the virus by feeding on infected birds. The majority of people (80%) who are infected with West Nile Virus do not get sick. Those who do become ill usually experience mild symptoms such as fever, headache, muscle ache, rash, and fatigue. Less than 1% of people infected with the virus get seriously ill with symptoms that include high fever, muscle weakness, stiff neck, disorientation,
mental confusion, tremors, confusion, paralysis, and coma. Older adults (age 50+) and those with compromised immune systems are at greater risk of developing central nervous system illness that can be fatal. “The positive bird means that residents of Polk County need to be more vigilant in their personal protective measures to prevent mosquito bites,” Brian Kaczmarski, Public Health Director said. The Polk County Health Department recommends the following: • Limit time spent outside at dawn and dusk, when mosquitoes are most active. • Apply an insect repellant with DEET, IR3535, picaridin, or oil of lemon eucalyptus to exposed skin and cloth-
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ing. Read instructions carefully as some repellants can only be used on clothing. • Make sure window and door screens are in good repair to prevent mosquito entry. • Prevent mosquitoes from breeding by removing standing water from items around your property, such as tin cans, plastic containers, flower pots, discarded tires, roof gutters, and downspouts. • Turn over wheelbarrows, wading pools, boats, and canoes when not in use. • Change the water in birdbaths and pet dishes at least every three days. • Clean and chlorinate swimming pools, outdoor saunas, and hot tubs; drain water from pool covers. • Trim tall grass, weeds, and vines PUBLIC NOTICES 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
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since mosquitoes use these areas to rest during hot daylight hours. •Landscape to prevent water from pooling in low-lying areas. The Wisconsin Division of Public Health will continue surveillance for West Nile Virus until the end of the mosquito season. No additional testing of dead birds is done once a county has a bird test positive for West Nile Virus. Reporting of sick or dead crows, blue jays, or ravens is still encouraged. Please call the Dead Bird Reporting Hotline at 1-800-433-1610. For more information on West Nile virus: http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/ communicable/ArboviralDiseases/WestNileVirus/Index.htm
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