WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2015
Serving Polk County’s St. t Croix C i Valley V ll since i 1897
VOL. 118 NO. 07 www.osceolasun.com $1.00
SPORTS: Chieftain football on a roll. PAGE 12
Construction to start for new Open Cupboard BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
SUBMITTED
Miss Osceola and her court Danielle Tinney was crowned Miss Osceola during the annual coronation at the Osceola Community Fair. Samantha Gibbs was crowned first princess and Breeanna Wallner was crowned second princess. More fair photos on page 10.
Contractors are about to break ground on a new structure to house Osceola’s food shelf, the Open Cupboard. The first signs of construction should be evident shortly after Sept. 15, said Roseanne Anderson, who founded the institution in 1993 and oversees operations. The 3500-square-foot building will belong to the Open Cupboard, and will be constructed near the food shelf’s current site. “It’s a little ways down from where we are now, closer to the senior building,” said Anderson. The new building will be smaller than the current building, but will use space more efficiently. “Right now we have 3800 square feet,” said Anderson, “but there’s a lot of wasted space. The 3500 will be doable because we redesigned the
To donate, send checks made out to the Open Cupboard to: Open Cupboard P.O. Box 541 Osceola, WI 54020 or Hiawatha Bank P.O. Box 729 Osceola, WI 54020 way the inside looks.” In a design drawn by volunteer Mary Clare Huberty and tweaked by an architect, food will be to the right of the entrance in the new building and clothes and other household items will be to the left. The building will be fully accessible according to American Disabilities Act standards. The new building will have a walk-in freezer, built right in to save a few thousand dollars. SEE CONSTRUCTION, PAGE 6
Out with the trailer park, in with trail, park Osceola Heights development in works BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@OSCEOLASUN.COM
As part of a deal that will channel new growth in Osceola to a development south of downtown, the village will acquire land just south of the Mill Pond, currently home to Falls Trailer Court. If all goes as planned the site will become a park, likely with trails and a trailhead. The change will not displace trailer park residents, said Village President Gary Beckmann. “There are no residents there,” he said. “There are still four trailer homes there, three are owned by the owner and one was left behind. The owner is responsible for clearing those out.” Though the transfer of land will be paid in full on both sides, the deal is, in effect, a trade. The trailer court owner, doing business as Mannington, is also part of St. Croix Holding Co. Two, the company buying a lot south of Rustic Road on Highway 35 with plans to build a 32-unit senior liv-
ing facility. The trailer court property will be signed over to St. Croix Holding before the purchase. “The [trailer park] owner is part owner in the senior care facility,” said Beckmann. “That’s why they were acted on together.” Village Administrator Joel West said turning the trailer court property into a public park is in line with the village’s comprehensive plan, as is developing the village-owned land. The village will purchase the park lot for $245,00, holding $20,000 until the homes are removed. St. Croix Holding Co. Two will pay $263,450 for 1.89 acres once city improvements are complete and financing is approved. The acreage is part of a 16-acre lot the village plans to use for future growth. Plans are in the works for a new road into the area from Highway 35, with approval from the county to build across cross county-owned land. One county supervisor voted against the
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EDWIN FLANUM | NORTHLAND SURVEYING
A survey map of the 16 acres where the Village of Osceola plans channel future growth. An initial land use and development agreement has been made to sell Lot 1.
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