Tribune Press Reporter 2017 Year In Review 3rd Quarter: A review of the top news headlines for 2017
Tribune Press Reporter 2017 Year In Review 3rd Quarter:
JULY
July 5: GLENWOOD CITY POOL CLOSES TEMPORARILY: As a precaution, the Glenwood City swimming pool was temporarily closed last Thursday, June 29 after two cases of Crytosporidiosis were reported in St. Croix County. Glenwood City clerk-treasurer Shari Rosenow, who also serves as the pool’s director, was notified of the cases last week by the St. Croix County Health Department. Rosenow said that the City closed the pool as a precaution until it could be tested for the Cryptosporidium parasite and cleared.
BOYCEVILLE MAN ACCUSED: Chris D. Herdahl of Boyceville has been accused of failing to properly register as a sex offender and also is accused of possession and delivery of methamphetamine. He made an initial appearance in Dunn County Circuit Court before Judge Rod Smeltzer June 20 on one felony count of possessing methamphetamine second offense and as a party to a crime, one felony count of delivering methamphetamine and one misdemeanor count of possessing drug paraphernalia.
BOYCEVILLE SCHOOLS APPROVES FOOD SERVICE POLICY AND AMENDED BUDGET: Boyceville’s Board of Education approved an updated food service policy and an amended budget for the 2016-2017 school year on June 29. The new policy indicates the board will allow students complete purchases from the district food service using cash in hand or a food service account.
July 12: RASSBACH’S QUILTS: Ella Rassbach, age 93 from Glenwood City, has an eye for detail, which has been used well over the approximately 40 years she has been assembling quilted items for friends, family, and even the county fair. Rassbach’s work has been rewarded several times over by blue-ribbon projects, and some grand champion creations submitted for judging at the St. Croix County Fair.
DNR GIVES PRELIMINARY APPROVAL FOR PERMIT FOR BOYCEVILLE PLANT: The state Department of Natural Resources has given preliminary approval to renew an air pollution control permit for Air Products and Chemicals Inc. for a carbon dioxide processing facility next to the Big River Resources ethanol plant.
BOYCEVILLE HEARS ABOUT MOWING, POSSIBLE NEW CHURCH AND CEMETERY: At the Boyceville Village Board regular meeting on July 10, Margie Sykora claimed that the other side of the ditch had been cut by the village but not on her side. She also told the board that she was giving the village two weeks to take action. In another matter, Steve Yoder, Kevin Zimmerman and Kevin Shafer appeared at the Village board meeting to seek information on how to proceed with a plan to build a new church and cemetery within the village limits. Yoder spoke for the group to the board and said that they were interested in purchasing about eight acres of land in the southwest corner of the village for their project of a new church and cemetery. The land is currently owned by Sharon Seeger.
July 19: FAIR OPENS JULY 19: The St. Croix County Fair is being held July 19 – 23, and promises a wide variety of animals, crafts, vendors, and events for the whole family to enjoy.
MENOMONIE MAN PLEADS NOT GUILTY IN BOYCEVILLE ROBBERY: Andrew D. Meyer of Menomonie has pleaded not guilty to one count of receiving stolen property valued between $2,500 and $5,000, and one count of obstructing an officer in relation to a 2016 burglary. Meyer was charged in January after being arrested in connection with the burglary of several thousand dollars of sound equipment belonging to the Boyceville Community Fire Department last summer.
GLENWOOD CITY HAS OVER $30,000 IN UNCOLLECTED FINES: The City Council learned from mayor John Larson Monday evening that the city has over $30,000 of uncollected fines on the books.
BOYCEVILLE STILL WAITING ON PROPOSALS FOR FIRE STATION: After setting a budget of $1 million, members of the Boyceville Community Fire District are still waiting on proposals for a new fire station.
July 26: GLENWOOD CITY GRADUATE SPEAKS AT UMC: Missionary Paul Webster spoke at the Downing United Methodist Church at noon on Thursday, July 20th. Webster, a 1973 graduate of Glenwood City High School, has lived in rural northwestern Zambia since 2000, when he and his late wife Roxanne moved there from the Democratic Republic of Congo, where they had served as missionaries since 1995.
DUNN COUNTY FAIR STARTS TODAY: Fun, food, animals and carnival rides — the Dunn County Fair starts today (Wednesday) and runs through Sunday at the Dunn County Rec Park in Menomonie.
REN IN THE GLEN TO BE HELD THIS WEEKEND: The sixth annual “Ren in the Glen” will be held the weekend of July 29 and 30 just northeast of Glenwood City. The celebration, which started in 2012, is listed on the website as one of Wisconsin’s smallest, and newest, renaissance fairs.
AUGUST
August 2: BIG TASTE GRILL TO BE IN GLENWOOD FOR RUSTIC LORE: America’s No. 1 sausage brand, Johnsonville Sausage, is bringing the World’s Largest Tailgate Party to town for the kickoff of the annual Rustic Lore Days celebration. For the celebration of its 100 years of service to the area, Hiawatha National Bank is sponsoring the Big Taste Grill that will be arriving on Friday, September 8 for the annual Rustic Lore Kickoff dinner.
BOYCEVILLE MAN HONORED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. MEMORIAL: Charles E. “Edward” Brehm of Boyceville, who was wounded in the Pacific Theater during World War II, was honored in a ceremony at the National World War II Memorial late last week. Brehm was honored as part of a wreath-laying ceremony July 29 at the Memorial as part of the second annual Teachers Conference at Georgetown University Hotel and Conference Center.
SCOTT KNUDSON APPOINTED AS NEW ST. CROIX COUNTY SHERIFF: Governor Scott Walker announced on July 26, 2017, the appointment of Chief Deputy Scott Knudson as the new St. Croix County Sheriff, replacing Sheriff John Shilts, who resigned on July 14, 2017.
KONDER NAMED FAIREST OF THE FAIR: Kaitlin Konder of Glenwood City was awarded the honor of being 2018 St. Croix County Fairest of the Fair July 20 after running for the 2017 crown and falling to Annamari Haffner. The 2015 graduate of Glenwood City High School decided to run again this year because she has always wanted to represent the county as Fairest of the Fair.
August 9: BOYCEVILLE WOMAN RECEIVES 13 CHARGES AFTER SEARCH WARRANT ON HER HOME: Aleisha L. Downey of Boyceville appeared in Dunn County Circuit Court last week on multiple charges of drug possession, recklessly endangering safety, and child neglect. Downey was arrested June 27, 2017, after officers from the Boyceville Police Department and Dunn County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant on her home.
BOYCEVILLE HOLDS SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL NIGHT OUT: Boyceville area residents kicked off the final month before school starts with a National Night Out party at Pafko Park last Tuesday. The August 1 celebration was part of a national movement promoting positive relationships between law enforcement and communities.
MAN CHARGED IN BOYCEVILLE ASSAULT CASE: A criminal complaint filed last Thursday by the Dunn County District Attorney’s office indicates Nicholas J. Rogalla of Rice Lake was charged after allegedly having sexual intercourse with a 17-year-old Boyceville girl without her consent in December 2016.
August 16: BREZINA, HANSON TO BE CUCUMBER FESTIVAL GRAND MARSHALS: Kathy Hanson and Delores Brezina, both of Boyceville, will have a busy weekend with daily parades, pickle contests, and general cucumber joy to spread as the 2017 Cucumber Festival “Cool as a Cucumber” grand marshals. The duo are longtime residents of Boyceville who are active participants in multiple community volunteer opportunities and events.
GC SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES RESIGNATION: The Glenwood City Board of Education unanimously approved the resignation Dr. Charles Rasmussen of one member Monday evening. Rasmussen submitted a letter of resignation to the board in mid-July announcing his resignation from his seat, but the issue could not be addressed until the August 14 meeting since it was not part of the July agenda. Three district residents – Dan Dopkins, Chuck Draxler and Kevin Bonte – have filed applications to fill Rasmussen’s seat.
BOYCEVILLE’S SAFE ROUTE TO SCHOOL BIDS COME IN 25% OVER ESTIMATE: A project that has been in the works for almost five years came to an uncertain conclusion at Monday night’s Village Board meeting when the board learned that the bids for the Safe Route to School project came in at about $75,000 over the estimate. The project includes new sidewalks and two railroad crossings in the village from the village area south of Highway 170 which will allow school children a safer path to walk to school. The engineer’s original estimate for the project was $175,000. Evenson noted that the village had received a $228,000 grant for the project, but he said that about $50,000 of that would go to the railroad for their work on improvements on their property.
August 23: CITY’S NEW WELL IS WELL UNDER WAY: The City Council learned Monday evening that the new well project is progressing and with the first stage completed, preparations are being made to start site work that will accommodate the new well house, pump and equipment.
COURT TRIAL SET FOR NEW HAVEN TREASURER: An October court trial on an alleged ethics violation has been set in Dunn County Circuit Court for the treasurer in the Town of New Haven. Judge Rod Smeltzer scheduled the court trial for Laura L. Ulrich at a status hearing August 15. The treasurer allegedly using her public position as treasurer to send out campaign advertising with the tax receipts to promote herself in the April 4 election.
August 30: ALL-SCHOOL REUNION TO COINCIDE WITH RUSTIC LORE: This year’s Rustic Lore Days weekend is all about celebrating Toppers young and old with the theme “Hilltopper Celebration.” All-school reunion committee chairs Doug and Arlene Hill approached the Rustic Lore committee nearly two years ago according to Nancy Stack, a member of the Rustic Lore group.
THREE CANDIDATES VIE FOR MISS GC: Three young ladies will be competing for the 2017-18 title of Miss Glenwood City. This year’s candidates are Maggie Wallin, Allexis Rassbach, and Olivia Janson.
TWO TEENAGERS INJURED IN BOYCEVILLE: Two Glenwood City teenage boys were injured when a pickup truck crashed through the exterior wall of the Boyceville Subway restaurant at 5:50 p.m. Thursday, August 24. According to the report from the Boyceville Police Department, two juvenile males were sitting at a table inside the restaurant when a 2014 brown Silverado pickup truck driven Marilyn Wheeler of Menomonie crashed into the wall of the restaurant. Both teenagers were treated at area hospitals.
SEPTEMBER
September 6: EDWIN AND ARDYCE JAMES TO BE RUSTIC LORE GRAND MARSHALS: Edwin and Ardyce James are the grand marshals for the 2017 Rustic Lore Days “Hilltopper Celebration.” Eddy and Ardy both believe they were chosen because of Eddy’s close ties to the school district.
DOWNING VETERAN HEADING BACK TO VIETNAM FOR MISSION TRIP: Richard Lynghaug of Downing, a Vietnam veteran, is participating in a mission trip to Vietnam and Cambodia October 15-27 as part of a delegation of 10 American veterans and Vietnamese minister Paul Ai. The group is returning to the country at the invitation of the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who asked Ai to gather a group of American vets to meet former VietCong who are Christians.
SCHOLLER TAKES EXCHANGE TRIP TO JAPAN: Glenwood City’s Emma Scholler spent six weeks in Machida-shi, Japan, near the city of Tokyo as part of a student exchange through Youth for Understanding (YFU), Kikkoman foods, and the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA). She earned a full scholarship for the trip earlier this year after learning about the program through FCCLA.
September 13: OSTERKAMP ARRESTED FOR GUN VIOLENCE THREAT: Nicholas D. Osterkamp of Altoona, who was charged with one felony count of making terrorist threats concerning the Glenwood City All-School Reunion this past weekend has been released on a $1,500 signature bond. Bail was set with a $1,500 signature bond. Conditions of bond are that Osterkamp was to have no contact with the Glenwood City All-School Reunion activities and is not to use or possess any firearms. Osterkamp was arrested last Thursday after threatening gun violence at the Glenwood City All-School Reunion in a Facebook post.
GC WATER RATES TO INCREASE BY 45 PERCENT: When Glenwood City residents open their next water bills, they can expect to see an increase of 45 percent on the water rate. Glenwood City applied to the Public Service Commission of Wisconsin to increase the water rates on October 25, 2016, according to documents available on the PSC’s website.
RASSBACH NAMED MISS GLENWOOD CITY: The 2017-18 Miss Glenwood City Court was crowned in a Saturday, September 9 evening ceremony in the high school gym. They are Miss Glenwood City Allexis Rassbach, First Princess Olivia Janson, and Second Princess Maggie Wallin.
September 20: TIMBLINS TO PROMOTE BOYCEVILLE AIRPORT: Joel Timblin and wife Becky are slowly getting the word out that Boyceville has an excellent little “exit ramp” for people from all over Wisconsin, the Midwest and the United State at the village’s Municipal Airport. Timblin is the airport’s manager, though he often shares the duties with his wife. The Plum City couple moved their aviation businesses to the airport in November 2016, but actually started using the airfield approximately five years ago.
BOYCEVILLE SCHOOL BOARD APPROVES DEBT REFINANCING: The Boyceville school board unanimously approved a resolution to establish parameters for the sale of no more than $2.3 million in referendum-approved debt Monday evening.
INJURED FOOTBALL PLAYER STILL ON THE FIELD WITH HELP FROM TEAMMATES: Senior football players Carson Strong, Jacob Nelson and Jacob Kopacz are trading off wearing Darian Multhauf’s jersey after he was injured in a football game for the third year in a row. The four are close friends who have seen their share of injuries through high school track and football.
September 27: SCEDC PRESENTS GRANT TO SUMMIT 58: St. Croix Economic Development Corporation (EDC) presented a $1,000 grant to Summit 58, the Glenwood DECA School Store, on Friday, September 22, 2017. The grant to Summit 58 provides students with an opportunity to take an active role in entrepreneurship.
LINDHOLM TO BE INDUCTED INTO HALL OF FAME: Wallace Lindholm, a former Glenwood City superintendent, was part of the first UW-River Falls basketball squad to win four conference championships in a row. The team he played on will be honored October 6 as inductees in the UW-RF Hall of Fame. He and one other team member, Newman Benson, are the only two members left from the 1946-1950 championship teams, Lindholm will be the sole attendee of the induction ceremony, since Benson lives in Arizona.
COLFAX WOMAN APPOINTED AS NEW DUNN COUNTY TREASURER: Doris Meyer of Colfax has been appointed by the Dunn County Board as treasurer for Dunn County. Meyer was appointed during the Dunn County Board’s September 20 meeting to fill the unexpired term of Dunn County Treasurer Megan Mittlestadt, who resigned in July.
