WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2015
Serving Polk County’s St. t Croix C i Valley V ll since i 1897
VOL. 118 NO. 15 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Chiefs win Level 3 playoff. PAGE 14
Fire hall demo, relocation considered BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Discussion has begun over whether to demolish the Village of Osceola’s fire hall, possibly as soon as next spring. “Removing the fire hall has been on the drawing board for a few years,” said Village President Gary Beckmann – but the idea was hastened
by evolving plans for the combined library and municipal building, or Mill Pond Discovery Center, which must incorporate elements of the existing fire hall into its design. “The fire hall wouldn’t be demolished until April,” said Beckmann, “but a decision needs to SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SN
SEE HALL, PAGE 23
Osceola’s fire hall could be slated for demolition as soon as next April.
Court prepares for river stabbing trial BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
A two-week trial for Levi Acre-Kendall, Cambridge, is set to start Dec. 7 at the Polk County Justice Center. Acre-Kendall stands accused of first-degree reckless homicide in the fatal stabbing of Pete Kelly, St. Croix Falls. The confrontation began when the two were fishing in separate groups on the St. Croix River last April. Acre-Kendall was 19 at the time and has since turned 20. Kelly was 34 at the time of his death. The defense plans to mount its case on a claim of self-defense. At a pre-trial motion hearing Mon., Nov. 9, the state seemed to be building a case to undermine
that possibility, highlighting the fact that Acre-Kendall and his friends fled the scene and investigating the possibility that they had been under the influence of marijuana. The trial’s jury will be drawn from Chippewa County, which sits north of Eau Claire. Before proceedings begin, twelve jurors and two back-ups will be selected from a pool of roughly 100, based on answers to a questionnaire designed to find impartial peers. The survey asks about prior knowledge of the case and opinions candidates have about legal standards and potential witnesses. The jury will be sequestered for the duration of the trial, and Judge Molly GayleWyrick has considered extending court
hours beyond the typical workweek to Sat. Dec. 12. Witnesses include friends of Kelly’s and Acre-Kendall’s who were at the scene, a gas station clerk, officers from sheriff’s departments in Polk, Isanti and St. Croix counties, and from the St. Croix Falls Police Department. Analysts from the state crime lab, a regional medical examiner and the county coroner will give reports. The defense will also present character witnesses, who will speak to Acre-Kendall’s level of integrity. Acre-Kendall, who was released on bond May 7, has been back in custody since May 14, when he was arrested for posting tweets that could be seen by friends with whom he was to have no contact.
Public weighs in on Dresser water rates BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Dresser residents concerned over a proposed rise in water rates were somewhat assuaged by factors brought to light at a public hearing last Wednesday, Nov. 4. Namely, although water rates could rise as much as 108 percent for average residents – depending on approval from the state’s Public Service Commission (PSC) – sewer rates won’t be subject to the same increase. Because water and sewer are billed together, the overall bill will not double, clarified Village Clerk Jodi Gilbert. Gilbert, who had estimated increases for a few residents, said that some
JO JASPERSON | THE SUN
St. Croix Central running back Trenten Smith hits a wall of Chieftain defenders in the WIAA Level-3 playoff game. The Chiefs advanced to Level-4 with a 14-7 win over the Panthers.
Moving on up Chieftains advance to WIAA Level-4 meet Freedom in Chippewa Falls By Ron Jasperson Sports Writer
Dresser’s current and proposed water rates, compared to current rates in Osceola and St. Croix Falls. (Note: gallon intervals are not to scale.)
would pay just $10 a month more than they pay now. Another resident, Walter Bucki, estimated that his bill NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
would increase by $31 per month in high-use periods of the year. A representative of the PSC noted that ADVERTISING 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
Dresser currently has the eighth cheapest water rates in WisconSEE DRESSER, PAGE 23
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
On paper the higher seeds are supposed to advance in a tournament. The four remaining teams in the Division-4 WIAA football tournament support that theory. On one side of the bracket you have the two-seed, Omro, facing off against the oneseed, Lodi. Omro is 11-1 this year with their only loss being to still undefeated Amherst (12-0). Lodi carries a 12-0 record to the State semi-final matchup. On the other side of the bracket is a pair of oneseeds. Freedom takes their 12-0 record to Chippewa Falls to challenge SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
the Osceola Chieftains who currently have an 11-1 record. Osceola’s only loss this season was to still undefeated Arcadia (12-0). Something has got to give this weekend. Two very good teams will win and earn the right to complete for the D-4 title on Nov. 19. The other two teams will eventually talk about their great season and probably lament about what might have been. “We travel to Chippewa Falls Friday night to take on Freedom,” Osceola coach Scott Newton said. “Freedom looks to be very aggressive and fast. It will be an extremely tough game.” The Freedom Irish channeled their aggressiveness and speed into a very good season so far. The Irish have outscored their opponents by a combined score of 384-96 for an average SEE CHIEFS, PAGE 23
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