Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2016 VOL. 118 NO. 27 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Osceola wrestlers end regular season with win. PAGE 10
County progresses in economic recovery BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
Polk County’s economic output grew 4.6 percent in 2015, signaling a continued recovery from the economic recession according to a recent analysis by the nonprofit National Association of Counties (NACo). Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and Moody’s Analytics, NACo tracked changes in four areas – jobs, unemployment, economic output and median home prices – to compare economic recovery in counties across the United States. Of the four indicators, Polk County has fully recovered in three: jobs, unemployment and economic output. Both average real wages and productivity increased in 2015, according to NACo’s analysis, but home prices have not recouped to pre-recession levels. “We’re not quite there
yet,” said Polk County Administrator Dana Frey, “but this is fairly remarkable.”
Only about a third of Wisconsin counties have recovered on three or four of the in-
dicators. The NACo analysis SEE COUNTY, PAGE 17
SUZANNE LINDGREN | THE SUN
Polaris laid off about 100 workers last week, half in the Twin Cities and a small number in Osceola.
Polaris lays off 100, few impacted locally BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
NACO | EXPLORER.NACO.ORG
Polk County has recovered on three of four economic indicators established by the National Association of Counties. Data sources: Moody’s Analytics and U.S. Census Bureau. Economic output is based on gross domestic product (GDP), the total vaule of goods and services produced by the county’s economy. Jobs are based on total wage and salary jobs (not the number of employed residents), whether full or part time, temporary or permanent. Median home sales prices are based on existing single-family homes in the county. Unemployment rate is the proportion of the civilian labor force that is unemployed.
Hansen pleads not guilty in child-assault case BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Despite facing seven felony counts related to the alleged s sexual abuse and t torture of a child, t the mood was light a and the courtroom s sparse for the prel liminary hearing of V Virgil A. Hansen, 6 of Milltown on 65 Hansen Thursday. If convicted, the Unity firefighter, Milltown Vil-
lage Clerk, and former Unity School bus driver, faces maximum sentences of more than 190 years in prison. During Thursday’s proceedings, Hansen waived his right to a preliminary hearing and pled not guilty to charges of 1) Repeated sexual assault of same child. 2) Trafficking of child. 3) Child sexual exploitation—videos, records, etc. 4) Child enticement – sexual contact. 5) Soliciting a child for prostitution. 6) Causing mental harm to a child. And 7) Child abuse – recklessly causing harm.
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The charges stem from alleged incidents involving a boy who began doing chores for Hansen, and occurred for a period of several years beginning when the boy was 13 ½ years old. Hansen left the courthouse free on bail after his initial appearance in November, which Judge GaleWyrick allowed to continue until Hansen’s next scheduled appearance in May. Restrictions are that Hansen not have any contact with the victim or his family, or any unsupervised contact with children under 17.
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Polaris Industries, Inc. announced layoffs of about 100 workers Jan. 26, citing a drop in profits in the final quarter of 2015 and a grim outlook for 2016. The company pointed to a warm winter, strengthening U.S. dollar and weak oil markets as likely culprits for the decrease in year-end sales. Polaris is not disclosing specific numbers of eliminated positions by location, but “a very small number of positions were eliminated” in Osceola, said spokesperson Kelly Bagsen. About half were laid off from sites in the Twin Cities, according to the Star Tribune. In spite of challenges in 2015, the company managed to grow its market share and increase sales and earnings for the sixth year in a row, said Polaris chairman and chief executive officer Scott Wine in a statement. “While 2015 was a difficult year, we did manage to grow market share … and increased sales and earnings per share for the sixth consecutive year,” he said. “That said, our performance failed to meet our earlier projections, as both external and internal challenges restrained growth and profitability.” The company reported a two percent increase in net income from 2014 to 2015, and a record year of total sales: $4.72 billion, a five percent increase SUBSCRIPTIONS 715-294-2314 office@osceolasun.com
from 2014’s $4.48 billion. But sales in the fourth quarter dropped 13 percent from last year, and net income for the quarter was 18 percent lower than in 2014. “The strengthening dollar and weakening oil markets combined with an unseasonably warm winter constrained demand for off-road vehicles and snowmobiles,” said Wine, “placing pressure on dealer inventory and forcing us to curtail shipments in the fourth quarter.” The company isn’t counting on redemption in 2016, predicting sales between two percent lower and three percent higher than 2015. “Our outlook for 2016 reflects another volatile year in powersports,” said Wine, “driven by near-term growth pressures from weak end markets as the threat of a worldwide economic slowdown looms.” Polaris has made it through difficult economic times before, and Wine added that the company “will continue to optimize dealer inventory, aggressively manage operating costs and other risk exposures, and provide our end-consumer with products and services that exceed their expectations.” This includes investing in “projects that accelerate future growth and our lean journey,” such as opening a new factory in Alabama later this year.
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