WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2015
Serving Polk County’s St. t Croix C i Valley V ll since i 1897
VOL. 118 NO. 14 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: All Conference winners. PAGE 14
Estimates show bumper harvests
Dresser proposes water rate hike
Prices dispirit some farmers BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
After 45 years of farming, Timm Johnson of Osceola says suspense is simply part of the job. “It’s normal,” he says. “You plant with optimism in the spring, watch what happens during the summer and do what you need to do, fertilize or water, then see how the harvest SEE HARVEST, PAGE 23
The Village of Dresser notified residents in late October of hikes to municipal water rates, effective Jan.1, 2016. ‘The increase is necessary due to 24 years of inflation, a 243 percent increase in gross plant investment and a 142 percent increase in operating expenses since the last water rate case was completed in 1991,” the letter read. The village’s water utility filed an application with the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin (PSCW), which sets water rates, for a revenue increase of $66,569, or 63 percent. But according to the letter, an average user would see a 108 percent increase in their bill. If the request is granted, the water bill for an average residential customer (someone with a ¾ inch meter using about 100 gallons a day) would increase from $29.12 to $60.60. The billing cycle would transition from quarterly to monthly, making the monthly bill $15 and change. Nationwide, water rates have risen about 41 percent since 2010, according to Circle of Blue, a nonprofit research agency founded by journalists and scientists. Price increases have been relatively low in the Great Lakes region. In Milwaukee, a household can expect to pay about $73 a month in combined water, sewer and storm water charges. In Chicago, the average bill is $91. In Atlanta and Seattle, where infrastructure improvements are underway, bills are the highest in the nation, at $326 and $310, respectively. Fresno ($49) and Memphis ($55) have the lowest rates in the 30-city survey. Public Hearing Back in Dresser, the Public Service Commission will hold a public hearing on the application Wed., Nov. 4 at 2 p.m. in Dresser’s municipal building. Comments will be accepted via mail or web through Nov. 3. Oral and written comments will be accepted during the hearing. The PSCW plans to stream the hearing on its website, psc.wi.gov, under the “PSC Live Broadcast” button.
Corn harvests, shown in bushels per acre for Wisconsin and the nation.
Will warm temps delay ski season? BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
The grass is decidedly green on the live webcam feed of Trollhaugen’s slopes. The chairlift is unmoving. It’s Oct. 27. “The temps have got to drop!” exclaimed Trollhaugen’s mascot troll on Facebook. “Pray a prayer. Dance a snow dance. Jam a cold boogie.” The next day, an extended forecast predicted warm temperatures into the weekend and the troll
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Trollhaugen’s webcam showed green slopes Nov. 2. Though resorts have been open in October in recent years, this year will likely see a mid-November opening.
SEE SLOPES, PAGE 23
Showdown II: the sequel Osceola hosts St. Croix Central Friday night BY RON JASPERSON SPORTS WRITER
When the Osceola Chieftains hosted the St. Croix Central Panthers on Oct. 9 there was plenty on the line. Each team came into the game with 5-0 conference records with the winner clinching at least a tie for the Middle Border conference title and also having a clear inside track to the conference title. Osceola won that game 21-14 and when they defeated Ells-
worth the following week the MBC title was theirs. This game was certainly a showdown between two of the best high school teams in the area. Advance the calendar four weeks and put your seatbelts on. Showdown II, the sequel, happens this Friday night in Osceola. The Chieftains earned the number one seed in the area by virtue of their 8-1 regular season. The Panthers, also 8-1 in the regular season, earned the two seed having lost to the Chieftains. Both teams did what they were supposed to do the first two weeks of the playoffs. Osceola defeated Altoona 41-0 before NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
JO JASPERSON |THE SUN
Teddy Gildersleeve ran for a touchdown, caught a touchdown pass and was effective returning punts in the Osceola 52-15 win over Northwestern.
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sending Northwestern packing by a score of 5215. St. Croix Central upended Somerset in their first WIAA playoff game by a score of 35-14 before defeating Tomahawk 23-6 last week. The teams now collide with 10-1 records. When the teams met four weeks ago it was probably the biggest game ever held at the Robert W. Vesperman athletic complex. That game was for the MBC title. When the Chieftains and Panthers get together again the game will be the new ‘biggest game ever’ at Vesperman field. The winner will advance
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to Level 4 in the playoffs, meaning there will only be four teams left in their division on the march to a possible State championship. The loser will have to pack their gear away and remember a great 10-2 season that they had. These are two very good football teams. “SCC is coming back to Osceola,” Osceola coach Scott Newton said. “It will be a tough physical four-quarter game. We will need a great week of practice to have a chance.” Showdown II will be played on Nov. 6 in Osceola. Kickoff is at 7 p.m.
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