Serving Polk County’s St. t Croix C i Valley V ll since i 1897
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 9, 2015 VOL. 118 NO. 19 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola girls basketball beats New Richmond. PAGE 14
Toy drive donations down BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Central Bank’s annual Toys4Kids drive is off and running, reports Timothy Koen, an organizer of the drive and the bank’s senior graphics and web designer. But donations to the program are down significantly this year. “Toys4Kids relies on the donations and involvement of the Osceola community to sustain it,” said Koen, “so we can continue our mission to make this Christmas – and future Christmases – brighter for local children and their families who are in need.” The Toys4Kids program helps bring holiday gifts to more than 200 local children each year. Donations to the 501(c) nonprofit organization are tax-deductible. The program, in its 28th year, is organized and run by Central Bank in coopera-
Toys4Kids drop-off locations Toy and monetary donations can be made at the following local Osceola businesses: · Central Bank · Bill’s Ace Hardware · Edling Chiropractic · Hiawatha National Bank · PY’s Saloon & Grill tion with the Blessing Basket program organized by the Osceola Food Shelf. “The bank’s basement is currently set-up as a makeshift Santa’s workshop,” said Koen, “and toy donations that we have received have been organized into boxes for the children of each family.” Last week, bank employees began purchasing toys to fill in gaps on the collective wish SEE DONATIONS, PAGE 8
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Central Bank’s annual Toys4Kids drive has kicked off, but donations to the program are down significantly this year. The drive helps bring gifts to more than 200 local children a year.
Christensen pleads guilty to amended charges, awaits sentencing BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
A November 30 pre-trial conference turned into a plea hearing for former Amery Fire Chief and Polk County Jailer Darryl L. Christensen, 49, of Amery. Christensen was initially charged with 5 counts of second-degree sexual assault by corrections staff, to which he pled not guilty on June 3. On amended charges filed Monday afternoon, the details of which are not yet available, Christensen pled guilty on all five counts. According to the criminal complaint filed by the Attorney General’s office, Christensen had sexual intercourse and sexual contact with several female inmates between November 2011 and November 2014 while employed as a corrections officer at the Polk County Jail. The incidents occurred in unmonitored areas within the jail complex. Because Christensen was an employee of Polk County, the case was investigated by the state’s Department of Justice and prosecuted by the Attorney General’s office. According to the minutes of the plea hearing, which took place in Washburn County, Judge Eugene Harrington revoked bail for Christensen. He was remanded to the custody of Washburn County and transported to Eau Claire County Jail, where he is currently awaiting sentencing. A sentencing hearing is scheduled for Feb. 1 at the Polk County Justice Center.
Two connected Osceola businesses, Pharmasan Labs, Inc. and NeuroScience, Inc., and business owners Gottfried Kellermann, 74, and Mieke Kellermann, 68, both of Osceola, have agreed to pay $8.5 million to the United States. The settlement resolves False Claims Act allegations that Pharmasan knowingly billed Medicare for ineligible food sensitivity testing for nearly five years. According to a press release from the U.S. Attorney for western Wisconsin, John W. Vaudreuil, Pharmasan submitted false information for lab services billed to Medicare, and allegedly violated Medicare rules
for services referred by non-physician practitioners. The companies, which are companion businesses in that NeuroScience bills Medicare for Pharmasan’s services, maintain that matters resolved by the civil settlement are allegations only, and no determinations or admissions of liability were made. According to a press release from Pharmasan and NeuroScience, a former manager is responsible for the ineligible billings, which he used for his own gain. “As described in the civil settlement agreement,” read the release, “the companies employed a billing manager whose oversight resultSEE LAB, PAGE 12
Snowboard tour debuts at Trollhaugen BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Trollhaugen is set to be the first stop on a nationwide traveling snowboard competition that’s making its debut this winter, the Burton Qualifiers. At the qualifiers, riders will vie for cash prizes and the chance to compete in a global event, the 2016 Burton Rail Days, which will be held in Asia next fall. In planning the tour, Vermont-based snowboard manufacturer Burton partnered with resorts known for their “epic parks,” said the company when announcing the tour. Each host resort will offer a uniquely themed terrain park that reflects its strengths. Trollhaugen’s theme is “Whales & Rails,” which refer to terrain features, namely snow mounds and railings. The series starts at Trollhaugen Dec. 19, then moves to New Hampshire, California, Utah, Colorado and ERIK RALLES
SEE TOUR, PAGE 6
NEWS 715-294-2314 editor@osceolasun.com
Osceola lab agrees to pay $8.5 million to resolve billing case
ADVERTISING 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
Local snowboarder Collin Wilson at Trollhaugen’s terrain park.
PUBLIC NOTICES 715-294-2314 sales@osceolasun.com
SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
BREAKING NEWS, UPDATES Whenever, wherever you are! Scan me with your smartphone