WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2015
Serving Polk County’s St. t Croix C i Valley V ll since i 1897
VOL. 118 NO. 12 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola volleyball win streak at four. PAGE 14
Tourism experts bet on train BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Supervisors Craig Moriak, Amery; Josh Hallberg, Balsam Lake; Dean Johansen and Patricia Schmidt, Luck. Of the four, Moriak, who sits on the Renewable Energy Committee, was the only one to vote for its continued operation. Hallberg and Johansen believed renewables could be pursued without committee direction, while Schmidt asserted that the committee had either not accomplished much in its nine-year tenure or hadn’t communicated its achievements.
County sunsets Renewable Energy Committee BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Citing reasons from over-managing to lack of results, the Polk County Board declined to re-affirm establishment of the county’s Renewable Energy Committee in an 8-7 vote. The committee, established in 2006, had requested continued approval to operate, citing the need for continued work toward meeting the county’s “25 x 25” plan, which focused on harnessing renewable energy to supply 25 percent of the county’s energy needs by SEE COUNTY, PAGE 19
Osceola refinances to save $100K BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The village of Osceola will issue $1,315,000 in bonds to refinance a 2005 debt. The move will bring a long-term interest savings of about $100,000, explained Brian Ruechel, director of Robert W. Baird & Co., the company underwriting the bond sale. “The savings the village will realize is all from interest,” said Ruechel, “there was no restructuring of the debt.” SEE OSCEOLA, PAGE 27
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Brian Ruechel, direct of Robert W. Baird & Co., outlined terms of the bond for the Osceola Village Board Oct. 13.
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A train whistle blew from the tracks near Osceola’s depot as groups of two and three stood near the station, smiling above trim fitting sweaters and fall coats. “We’re about ready to get started,” a film crew director told the actors. “I’ll probably ask you to go back and forth a couple times.” Wisconsin’s Department of Tourism had hired a crew for the Oct. 14 filming, part of a new effort to expand local tourism. The larger project includes a tourism assessment study, done in partnership with the Osceola Area Chamber to gauge the importance of tourism to the area and compile a list of attractions, such as sights and dining options.
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A director prompts actors near Osceola’s train depot, Oct. 14. The Department of Tourism contracted with a film crew to capture footage of the train and other local attractions.
“From that list,” said Andrew Nussbaum, the department’s tourist specialist for northwest Wisconsin, “we’ll find the best opportunities to promote this area for folks to visit, especially things that would keep people here for more
than one day.” The assessment should be complete by next fall, said Nussbaum, who’s worked for the department for three and a half years. Meanwhile, the shoot continued. “We’re not taking
sound right now,” the director told the actors, “but I do want you to have a conversation with whoever you’re with. Nothing too loud, but a quiet, ‘How are you doing? What are we SEE TOURISM, PAGE 11
Conference champions! Chieftains finish MBC play undefeated BY RON JASPERSON SPORTS WRITER
It was a long time coming but it was worth the wait. The last time the Osceola Chieftain football team had won the Middle Border conference championship was in 2006. Nine years later the MBC was claimed by Osceola again. The Chieftains went through the conference season with a 7-0 record. Osceola completed the regular season with an 8-1 record with their only loss being a 17-14 decision to still undefeated Arcadia. Osceola cemented the conference crown with a convincing 50-20 win at Ellsworth. “I am happy for the seniors and the rest of the team,” Osceola coach Scott Newton said. “Winning the Middle Border conference is a huge accomplishment. Our conference is extremely tough and I am proud of the effort the players have put in week in and week out.” Osceola has been rewarded for their play with the top seed in their section of the D4 playoffs that will start this Friday, Oct. SEE FOOTBALL, PAGE 23
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JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
Senior Joe McKelvey grabbed three passes from quarterback Tucker Hazzard good for 83 yards and two touchdowns. Osceola won the MBC title with a 50-20 win at Ellsworth.
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