WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2017
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
VOL. 120 NO. 6 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola football wins conference opener. PAGE 10
Highway 243 bridge expected to close for 18 days BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The Osceola Bridge on Highway 243 will close September 11 for roadwork including restoring the bridge deck, resurfacing pavement and repairing erosion on the hillside. According to the Minnesota Department of Transportation, the bridge is expected to reopen September 28, but dates are subject to change due to weather or project readiness. MnDOT will direct bridge traffic north to the Taylors Falls crossing. Cars will have access to the Osceola Landing from the Minnesota side of the bridge throughout construction. The bridge will also close for a day in mid October. MnDOT expects all work on the $415,000 project to be finished by October 21.
SUBMITTED
Lucky Panda owners Dao feng Wei, Cindy Zheng and their daughters celebrated the Spitzer Building’s 100-year anniversary with a Marshmallow Chopstick Challenge during River Rails and Trails Days. From left: Vicki Wei, Shakira Wei, Cindy Zheng, Dao feng Wei.
MNDOT
The Minnesota Department of Transportation expects to begin roadwork on the Osceola bridge September 11 or 12 and reopen September 28. The bridge will close again for a day in mid October.
Dresser president responds to resignation letter BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Dresser Village President Bryan Beseler offered a public response last week to the resignation letter of former public works supervisor Steve Jacobs. In a letter sent to local newspapers, Dresser trustees and village staff, Beseler explained that the response was meant to answer residents’ questions and add context from his perspective. “The immediate resignation of Steve Jacobs was a surprise to me and the village board,” he wrote. “One should know that immediately thereafter Jacobs began employment with another local municipality.” Beseler qualified Jacobs’ accusation that vil-
Nearly a century old, Spitzer Building now home to successful restaurant BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
lage funds had been misspent, and noted that he had responded to Jacobs’ concerns. “As known to me today, any allegation of inappropriate use of funds was related to the use of village equipment and materials and there was no indication of village money being privately diverted,” he wrote. “Steve brought the issue of personal items being stored at the village shop to my attention. Following this being brought to my attention, I visited the shop to view the items for myself. As part of my visit, I met with the affected employees and informed them this practice was no longer allowed and needed to end. It was my understanding this was corrected thereafter. “Regarding the use of internet,” Beseler SEE RESPONSE, PAGE 2
The owners of Lucky Panda joined the Osceola Historical Society earlier this summer in celebrating River Rails and Trails Days. The Spitzer Building — one of several buildings and businesses the historical society identified as turning 100 this year — has been home to the Chinese restaurant since 2007. Cindy Zheng and Dao feng Wei bought the business in 2009. According to research by the Osceola Historical Society, E.A. Dodd started construction on what would become the Dike Brothers Garage in 1915. It was Osceola’s second garage, built to match the growing need for repairs and maintenance on increasing numbers of automobiles in town.
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SEE SPITZER, PAGE 2
Locally owned and operated
Making dreams come true since 1919
NEW RICHMOND SOMERSET
In the 1930s the E.R. Spitzer Ford Dealership built an addition to the Dike Brothers building. According to historical society records, the Dike building has since been razed. Spitzer owned the building into the late 1960s. Today, Spitzer’s nameplate and the building’s large display windows have been covered with wood but the brick diamond near the building’s peak remains as a defining feature. The building — which has served purposes as diverse as photo studio, butcher shop, store and now restaurant — has proved adaptable to cultural and commercial changes in Osceola over the course of the last century. According to Zheng, mem-
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