Harvest Festival this Saturday

Jim Daddies Harvest Festival will be held this Saturday on the east end of the 700 block of Main Street in Baldwin.

The festival, sponsored by Jim Daddies BBQ Sauce and BBQ UniverCity, will be from noon until 6:00 p.m. rain or shine. It will feature the music of Howard Luedtke and Patchouli with a reunion of members from the Onyx/Second Wind/Bottom Line bands.

The cost of admission is $10 (or half price with a non-perishable food shelf donation). The proceeds will be divided between the Baldwin Parks fund and Tapestries of Life Mexican Orphanage. In addition, the ticket will enter you in a drawing for a grill and other prizes.

The Festival is the brainchild of former Baldwin resident Robert Dull, who currently works for Pearlygate Network, which assists artists in production.

Tapestries of Life is a U.S. based organization that takes seriously the Christian mandate to take care of widows and orphans. In order to accomplish this mandate, Tapestries of Life is focusing on two large initiatives.

The first vision is to build an orphanage in Guadalupe Mexico, which will be the largest orphanage in all of Latin America. When completed the orphanage will house over 400 children and the government promised to fill it within 24 hours of when it's doors open with a small percentage of the over 7000 children that are living on the street in that area alone. This orphanage is being built by churches in America, Canada, Scotland and all over the world.

"Lisa (Dull) Seaman and her husband Quinn are working on the orphange," Dull noted. "They hope to be open in about a year."

The second part of the vision is meeting the immediate daily needs of today by providing much needed food to the poor of Mexico. Many of these items are provided by donations specifically for this ministry or by the work teams involved in the distribution.

The festival opens with Howard "Guitar" Luedtke, a versatile musician who performs regularly at rock, blues and jazz festivals all over Wisconsin and Minnesota.

Bruce Hecksel and Julie Patchouli recorded their first jam session together on January 6, 1993 in a church in Chicago. With Bruce playing an acoustic guitar and Julie on a 5 gallon pail they discovered their desire to create music together out of anything and everything around them. That desire fueled their relationship as it grew out of this musical love they shared and keeps them grounded in the music they create still to this day.

The song Patchouli was the first instrumental piece they wrote together.

Bruce attended college and grad school for music and theology. Julie studied ethnobotany (the study of cultures and plants) and environmental science. Together they blend the idea of cultures, music, environment and theology into the positive vibrations of Patchouli music.

Patchouli's deeply rooted musical base combined with advanced studies in yoga, meditation and other healing disciplines work together to make music with a remarkable capacity to inspire and uplift the human spirit.

New flooring store in Baldwin

Colleen Smith, picctured above, and her husband Dean own Baldwin Design & Full Specctrum Flooring, a new store at Baldwin Retail.

Colleen Smith, who along with her husband Dean owns Baldwin Design & Full Spectrum Flooring, admits that the housing slow-down has probably affected their business. But she added that their store, at Baldwin Retail on Gracie Drive in the mall on the southwest quadrant of the I-94/USH 63 interchange, has been staying busy with remodelings and commercial and church work in the area.

The new store opened in February and it carries hundreds and hundreds of floor covering products in tile, hardwood, carpet, laminates and vinyl from a variety of companies, said Colleen. Colleen is the store manager and Dean, a Glenwood City native, is the chief installer.

Colleen said that what sets their store apart is that their installers are in-house. We follow the product "from beginning to end," she explained.

Dean has 25 years experience in installing floor coverings, most out of the Twin Cities. Colleen manages the store and has previous managerial experience. They employ a salesman, Matt Multhauf, also a Glenwood City native, who has been selling in the Twin Cities for the past
10 years.

The Smiths decided to start a local store, near where they live. Their home is almost equal distance from Hammond, River Falls, Spring Valley and Baldwin.

Serious crash sends two to hospital

A t-bone crash between two vehicles at the intersection of CTHs BB and N southeast of Baldwin early Friday evening resulted in the occupants of the two vehicles being sent to the hospital, including one in critical condition.

According to rescue workers on the scene, the occupant of one of the vehicles was taken to Baldwin Area Medical Center with critical injuries and then flown by air ambulance to Regions Medical Center in St. Paul. That individual remains in critical condition.

The individual in the other vehicle was taken to BAMC and from there was sent by ground ambulance to Regions for further treatment of injuries. That person is in stable condition.

Agencies responding to the scene in addition to Baldwin Area EMS were Baldwin Police Department, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department and United Fire and Rescue.

Lowered speed limits approved; Main Street will be done by school start

New speed limits for a road bordering Baldwin's southeast side were approved by the Baldwin Village Board at last Wednesday's regular monthly meeting.

In addition, Village Engineer Mike Stoffel of Ayres Associates told Board members that the Main Street utility and repaving project is going well. When questioned whether the work will be finished by the start of school, Stoffel said "they should be pretty well completed by then." A pay
request for $141,519 to Albrightson Excavating was approved by the board.

At the recommendation of Village Police Chief Jim Widiker, the Board set new speed limits on 220th Avenue, on Baldwin's east side, south of Maple Street (70th Avenue). From Maple Street south to Cedar Street, the new speed limit will be 25 miles per hour. From Cedar Street south to 55th Avenue the speed limit will be 45 miles an hour. Chief Widiker said the amount of traffic has greatly increased on 220th Street with the opening of Cedar Street to it. Traffic has also increased on 220th due to the construction on USH 63.

Skydiver falls to his death

A Chippewa Falls man fell to his death Friday, August 8 after his skydiving chute made "an abrupt turn" just prior to landing, according to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, and the man landed at a 45 degree angle.

Todd Jacobson, 39, was skydiving at Skydive Twin Cities in the afternoon, just west of Baldwin on CTH J. According to the Sheriff's Department, "witnesses at the scene stated that Mr. Jacobson was skydiving with a group. His chute deployed normally, but just prior to landing his chute made an abrupt turn in the air so that Mr. Jacobson was at a 45 degree angle to the ground," causing him to land on his head. The Sheriff's Department release said it is unknown why the abrupt turn was made.

The Sheriff's Department was notified at 2:18 p.m. of an injured person at the scene. Upon arrival, deputies performed CPR on Jacobson. He was then transported to Baldwin Area Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 3:07 p.m.

The Sheriff's Department news release said Jacobson was identified as an experienced skydiver with several thousand jumps to his credit.

According to the Eau Claire Leader-Telegram, Jacobson was a safety and training advisor and videographer for the Skydive Wissota Indianhead Sport Parachute Club. According to that Club's webside, Jacobson had successfully completed 5,200 jumps since 1991.

The St. Croix County Sheriff's Department news release said the death of Jacobson remains under investigation by his office.

Gold Finch Farm provides cut flowers to retailers

If you make the commute between Baldwin and Woodville on Highway 12, you've probably noticed the transformation which has occurred at the former Francis and Ruby Dees farm.

For the last four years Harold Wilkins and Bryan Gjevre have transformed the former dairy farm in a huge flower and shrub garden the partners grow to sell to retail floral shops, such as Hermes Floral, for floral arrangements.

"We are wholesale only," Harold stressed.

Wilkins is retired from a career of Professor of Horticulture, which included 25 years at the University of Minnesota and two years filling an endowed chair at Ohio State University. Gjevre was a student of horticulture, attended the U of M and met Harold while both were working on a project at Berkeley in California. Because the flower business is seasonal, Gjevre said he is attending a CNA program and hopes to work at Park View in Woodville during the winter m
months.

Currently the partners have about three of the five acres at Gold Finch Farm under production. The top annuals include zinnias, sunflowers, amaranthus, celosia, dill, broom corn, sage and trachelium.

The broom corn can grow up to 15 feet in height, Wilkins noted. "A local farmer stopped in the first year we were here because he was amazed at how tall it was and no cob."

Perennials growing at Gold Finch Farm include artemesia, sedum, a variety of lilies, hostas, phlox, echinops, yarrow, Siberian Iris, allium, dahlia, Chinese Lantern, three species of milkweed, astilbe, campanula, foxgloves and callas.

"Bryan is in charge of research and development," Wilkins noted. Gjevre admitted some of his plantings do not work, mostly because they don't last in a bouquet. Only two varieties of foxglove survive the winter.

Eriogron is a flower they tried, but no one wanted to buy," Gjevre said.

Sweet pea flowers was another experiment that didn't work. "We ordered a variety from Britain, but couldn't sell a one," Wilkins said. "But we also had a variety from a test seed organization blooming when we got a call from a Hudson florist. A woman had passed on who loved sweet pea
flowers and the family wanted them for a funeral bouquet. So we sold $5.00 worth."

"Harold has the contacts (for wholesale), including the Baldwin Greenhouse," Gjevre commented. They also have an arrangement with Baldwin Greenhouse to use the walk-in cooler to store cut flowers before delivery.

Other local contacts include the three workers the business employs. Logan Veenendall and Justin Morrissey are high school students working seasonal full time at Gold Finch Farm, while Diane Hudson works part time weeding flower beds and Byron Jelen provides mechanical services

"We found the local workers are excellent," Wilkins said.

Harold also has arrangement with Jon-De Farms to have manure delivered to be used at mulch and fertilizer.

Gjevre said woody shrubs have also been planted, "but is takes three to five years for them to be ready." The shrubs are not grown for replanting, but are instead the branches are cut to be used in floral arrangements.

The next time you travel from Baldwin to Woodville, or vice versa, watch for Gold Finch Farm located on the north side of the highway on the curve and you'll see what's growing. You'll most likely see Bryan, Harold or one or more of the employees weeding the flower beds.

Area residents invited to Open House at Contour Plastics

Contour Plastics, Inc. invites members of the public to the expanded facility in Baldwin's Industrial Park on Friday The facility now contains 91,000 square feet of floor space.

To celebrate the completion of a multi-million dollar addition to their manufacturing facility in Baldwin, Contour Plastics is hosting an open house on Friday, August 15 from 11:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. The company is located at 660 VandeBerg Road in the Baldwin Industrial Park in Baldwin.

The Contour addition project began in May of 2007. The addition nearly doubled the facility to 91,000 square feet. The project includes a two story structure that added a mezzanine level, offices, training, production and clean rooms that regulate air flow, pressure, temperature and filtration. Frisbie Architects of River Falls served as architect for the project and Gavic Construction of Hudson was the general contractor.

In recognition of the job opportunities and contributions to the community, Governor Jim Doyle announced on June 8, 2007 that Contour Plastics would receive up to $250,000 in Technology Zone credits as part of the facility expansion.

Contour Plastics specializes in the manufacture of precision injected molded plastic production parts and assemblies, principally for the medical, electronics and communication industries. Growing demand by these industries for specialized services, including class 10,000 and 100,000 clean rooms, were some of the pivotal reasons for this expansion. Customers choose Contour Plastics for the quality of its people, the speed of performance and its technical excellence.

Contour was established in 1990. In 1994 the company was honored as the Wisconsin Emerging Business of the Year by Wisconsin Manufacturers and Commerce. St. Croix Economic Development Corporation named Contour Plastics as the 2000 Business of the Year (medium category) in St. Croix County. Currently, the company has more than 200 employees.

The public is invited to the open house.

For more information about Contour Plastics go to www.contour-plastics.com.

Hayley Hawkins is "Miss Hammond"

Hayley Hawkins was crowned "Miss Hammond" at the Hammond Heartland Days pageant last Thursday evening. Joining her on the Heartland Days court are princesses: Kelsey Criego, Tiffany Rogers and Kayla Forrest. Kelsey Criego was also chosen as Miss Congeniality.

Man dies after fall from bridge

A Hudson man was killed Sunday night, August 3 when he either jumped or fell off a bridge onto westbound I-94 and then was hit by three vehicles.

According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, Andreas Karl-Hubert Schoene, 34, of Hudson, fell or jumped from the 11th Street overpass. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

An autopsy on Schoene's body is being conducted in an effort to determine whether he died as a result of the fall or from being hit by the three vehicles. The fall or jump and resulting death required re-routing vehicles in the westbound lane for about an hour and one-half.

The State Patrol said no one in the three vehicles was injured. The call to the State Patrol was received at 10:42 p.m.

Two accidents near Woodville sent five to hospitals

Two accidents near Woodville last week sent five people to hospitals, with one injured person suffering possible life threatening injuries.

According to emergency personnel who responded to the accidents, one was a T-bone accident on USH 12 near 260th Street on Woodville's northeast side. One individual was unresponsive with possible life-threatening injuries and was transported to Regions Medical Center in St. Paul. Three others in the accident were transported to Baldwin Area Medical Center with lesser injuries.

Another accident was at the intersection of CTHs B and N south of Woodville. Again, a vehicle was T-boned by another in the accident. Two persons from one of the vehicles in the accident were transported to Baldwin Area Medical Center for treatment with non-life threatening injuries. The occupant of the other vehicle refused treatment.

Agencies responding to the scene of both accidents were Woodville Police, Baldwin EMT Department and United Fire and Rescue.

Paulette Anderson's organizational skills a benefit to Hammond

Paulette Anderson admits she's good at organizing and that has proved beneficial to the Hammond area in several ways. Years ago she took a grant writing course at UW-River Falls and as part of the course applied for a grant for a fictional organization called the Hammond Arts Alliance. Her business is gardening, at one time operating Paulette's Gardens and now as a gardener for others, and her skills with plants have resulted in more beauty at the Hammond Hall.

For those activities and others that have benefited the community, Paulette has been recognized by the Hammond Heartland Parade Committee as Grand Marshal. Paulette will be walking in the parade perhaps accompanied by two-person llama costumes designed to publicize the upcoming premier of a documentary film "Running of the Llamas" by local filmmaker Heidi Freier.

Anderson is a native of Amery, or more specifically, Range, where her family had a turkey farm. She spent a couple years in college and then traveled and worked as a waitress for 20 years. Then she started her gardening business, which she has now been involved in for 20 years. She
had a retail operation for six or seven years, "Paulette's Gardens," but now is out of retail and does flower garden maintenance. At one time she had many clients, but at present has just a few.

Paulette admitts that gardening is a passion for her. She said for many years she tried to find a job she could do and have summers off so she could garden and now she is able to garden all the time. She volunteers her gardening expertise at Adoray Gardens and the container gardens at the Hammond Library and Hammond Post Office. About gardening she said: "I like it. I'm a part of it."

The Hammond Arts Alliance story is interesting. "Thirteen years ago I took a grant writing workshop," said Anderson. It was a day-long workshop at UW-RF. She said that afterwards she was excited about the prospects and was talking to the late Fred Kraemer and he said Bruce Foster would probably allow Foster Hall to be used for a gallery. A 501(c) organization was formed and that's how the Hammond Arts Alliance and Foster Hall got their start. "I like making things happen," she said. The Hammond Arts Alliance is now in its 12th year. Foster Hall is no longer the venue for the Alliance, and instead upstairs at the Hammond Hotel is used as well as
some remote locations.

Anderson said that over the years she's had many employees who were artists and so has a network of artists she knows. "I'm kind of a social person," she said, and knows art students, art teachers and everyone in between. She also said Hammond is an interesting place in which to have an art gallery.

Friday Paulette said she will be at the new farmers market, next to Hammond Hall. She will be selling flowers, be available to answer gardening questions and to talk about one of her new projects-establishing community education. Another of her current projects is to renovate the upstairs of Hammond Hall so it is usable year-round.

In addition to her organizing and gardening activities, Paulette has found time during the past eight years to serve as a trustee on the Town of Hammond Board.

Paulette and her husband Joe live just north of Hammond in a prairie style home filled and surrounded by plants and works of art.

The preview screening of the documentary "Running of the Llamas" will be on Thursday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m., which is just before this year's llama race which is at 7:00 p.m. The film will be shown in the Hammond Hall above the library. Next door, above the Hammond Hotel in the Kraemer Loft Gallery, will be a show of award-winning items made from llama fiber by members of the St. Croix County 4-H/FFA.

BAMC and Smestad team up to give students insights

Kit Smestad, left, B-W High School guidance counselor, took a course through WITC over the summer familiarizing herself with many aspects of the medical field at Baldwin Area Medical Center. Trudy Achterhof is BAMC's Human Resource Director.

A credit class through WITC taken over the summer by B-W High School guidance counselor Kit Smestad at Baldwin Area Medical Center has given her insight into medically related fields which will help her advise kids about them.

Smestad spent time over the summer in 16 separate areas at BAMC to gain knowledge about each of the areas and the qualifications needed for each.

"Now I have a better idea how to advise kids and can make them aware of different opportunities in the medical field," said Smestad. "It's not to tell them what to do but to give them information so they can decide what to do."

Smestad worked with BAMC Human Resources Director Trudy Achterhof to set up the course. Over the summer Smestad was able to spent time in departments or areas including: surgery, risk management, infection control, diabetes control; respiratory therapy, clinic, social services, lab, radiology, ER, OB and scheduling and registration.

Achterhof said that because BAMC is a smaller facility Smestad was better able to see the whole of the operation, rather than at a large medical facility which has thousands of employees spread across hundreds of areas. She added that the 16 areas visited by Smestad were probably three-quarters of the areas at BAMC. "It made it more manageable for Kit," said Achterhof.

Smestad said the course, practically speaking, involved spending time in each of the departments, speaking to the people in them "and finding out what they do." She also discussed schools that educate students in their areas. The connections she made with employees also provides Smestad with a contact person for a student if they have questions in that area.

"The great thing about health care is there are many options and the training varies from on-the-job to being a doctor," said Smestad.

"That's the message we try to send when we go to schools," added Achterhof, "there are many options." She said BAMC puts lots of energy into recruiting and working on partnerships with schools because of the shortage of health care workers. "We try to make ourselves available to their school programs and to be speakers and participate in their school programs and in interview days as a way of saying we care about students who want to advance themselves and help them achieve their goals in health care." Achterhof said

BAMC has between 20 and 25 students yearly from WITC and CVTC who do clinical rotations. She said that provides a pool of resources from which the hospital may recruit in the future. "Many people prefer to be in a small [hospital] environment," said Achterhof. BAMC also offers multiple rotations, she added, with nursing a great example. A nurse can be trained in four or five areas at BAMC, while at a large facility a nurse would work in only one area. "People who come here want the diversity and variety they get."

BAMC also offers a program called "Me and my shadow" for high school students to shadow a health care practitioner in an area of their interest, said Achterhof. "In surgery, for example, a student may get achance to be in surgery."

Eggen's Supermarket now closed

Eggen's Supermarket in Baldwin is now closed for good.

A Bob & Steve's BP Convenience store will continue to offer BP products and the usual convenience store items from a portion of the Eggen's building.

Jon Eggen will remain at the store as a Bob & Steve's employee to manage the convenience store. Bob & Steve's BP has 28 stores, including locations in Hammond, Baldwin, Woodville, Knapp and Boyceville. The company is headquartered in Menomonie, said co-owner Steve Jerlow. Steve Eggen said he has no immediate plans.

Jon Eggen said that options for the remaining space in the building are being explored.

Eggen's was started 60 years ago by Jon and Steve's grandfather Lloyd and his brother Bob. It was then operated by Lloyd's son and Jon and Steve's father, Don. It moved to the present location in 1981 from what is now the westernmost portion of Baldwin Telecom. Jon and Steve came into the business in 1997. They have had as many as 25 to 30 employees over the years.

Preschool "Catch the Reading Bug"

The Preschool "Catch the Reading Bug" summer reading program at the Baldwin Public Library enjoyed listening to the Book Diary of a Worm and eating Bar-b-qued mealy worms and gummi worms.

Brothers died of overdoses

On May 27 Jeffrey Konrad Knoll, age 38, and Gregory Allen Knoll, age 43, were found dead in their apartment at 1102 County Rd. A in Burkhardt. A subsequent investigation showed that both brothers probably died on or about May 10.

Autopsies were conducted on both brothers on May 28. The final autopsy report from the Ramsey County Minnesota Medical examiners office received on July 17 revealed that Jeffrey died of a heroin overdose and Gregory died from an overdose of prescription drugs.

These deaths remain under investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriff's Office.

Survey asks businesses for input on health care benefits Results will assist regional health care cooperative

A steering committee seeks input from the region's small businesses to help determine if a health benefit purchasing cooperative should be formed. The committee is asking businesses to respond to a confidential survey on health benefits and costs. Businesses are also asked if the cost of health care prohibits their ability to offer it. A solution could be the formation of a cooperative. In the same way rural residents worked together to bring electricity to farms, members of a health care cooperative would purchase health benefits as a group. According to a guiding principle of a cooperative, more members lead to greater bargaining power.

The committee was formed last April following a 2-hour workshop on health care cooperatives. About 100 people attended the workshop. The workshop was hosted by State Senator Sheila Harsdorf and St. Croix Economic Development Corporation. In 2003 and 2005, Senator Harsdorf authored legislation that made health care cooperatives in Wisconsin a reality. Bill Oemichen, president and CEO of the Wisconsin Federation of Cooperatives, led the discussion at the workshop. He explained that an old idea like cooperatives could help small businesses obtain affordable health insurance. Oemichen said the Farmer's Health Care Cooperative, designed to help farmers and agri-businesses obtain health insurance, celebrated its first anniversary in March. Similar cooperatives are being established elsewhere in the state.

Steve Healy, a retired rural electric cooperative executive, serves as chair of the steering committee. The 13-person group meets twice a month and keeps attendees from the April workshop informed by distributing meeting notes.

The committee is reviewing by-laws for the cooperative, and has identified an 18-county region of western, west central, and northwest Wisconsin as a potential territory. Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Pepin, Polk, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Trempealeau, and Washburn counties are tentatively included in the cooperative's region. The Wisconsin Commissioner of Insurance must approve the cooperative's operating region, according to state statute.

The proposed cooperative has a working name - Cooperative Health Choices of Western Wisconsin, or CHC. A 2-page fact sheet helps explain how CHC would operate. In the mission statement, CHC says promoting wellness and healthy behaviors is its highest priority.

The committee has received assistance from a Green Bay-based cooperative known as Healthy Lifestyles. This co-op is currently enrolling small businesses into its third year of coverage, effective January 1, 2009.

Survey participants can go to www.unitedscv.com/chchealth.htm to take the confidential survey. The deadline for completion is August 8.

For more information, contact Steve Healy at (715) 425-9447 or William Rubin, St. Croix EDC at (715) 381-4383.

Buzz has busy week; third in Cumberland tournament

After splitting a doubleheader with Grantsburg on Tuesday night, the B-W Buzz had a rough outing on Thursday night against New Richmond. What was supposed to be a doubleheader turned into a single game due to continuing rain as well as a poor playing field. "We had a rough game," said B-W Coach Grey Hush about the New Richmond game.

"They beat us pretty good. We tried to do two games but the field fell apart." But the Buzz came back strong for a weekend tournament at Cumberland, finishing third. In the first game on Saturday B-W beat Cumberland 8-3. In the second game "we lost to a very good Onalaska-Luther team 9-8 in seven innings," said Coach Hush.

B-W was ahead of Onalaska-Luther 8-3 in the bottom of the seventh but gave up six runs as O-L came back. "We had a couple of errors and before you knew it they won. We played pretty darn good baseball for six innings," said Coach Hush. Jason Geurkink was the starting pitcher for B-W and pitched a great game. Dylan DeMotts came in to relieve Geurkink and also pitched well said Coach Hush. On Sunday B-W beat Ellsworth 13-3 in five innings to take home the third place trophy. In the championship game O-L beat New Richmond by 10 runs.

"So we had a pretty good weekend but ran into a very good team," concluded Coach Hush. B-W's game scheduled for Friday at Osceola was postponed until this Wednesday, but may have to be canceled. Coach Hush said the Legion Tournament may begin Thursday. Coach Hush said he is sure there will be a tournament game or two this week, with place and times to be announced. He noted that the Legion Tournament is double elimination.

Buzz has busy week; third in Cumberland tournament

After splitting a doubleheader with Grantsburg on Tuesday night, the B-W Buzz had a rough outing on Thursday night against New Richmond. What was supposed to be a doubleheader turned into a single game due to continuing rain as well as a poor playing field. "We had a rough game," said B-W Coach Grey Hush about the New Richmond game. "They beat us pretty good. We tried to do two games but the field fell apart." But the Buzz came back strong for a weekend tournament at Cumberland, finishing third. In the first game on Saturday B-W beat Cumberland 8-3. In the second game "we lost to a very good Onalaska-Luther team 9-8 in seven innings," said Coach Hush. B-W was ahead of Onalaska-Luther 8-3 in the bottom of the seventh but gave up six runs as O-L came back. "We had a couple of errors and before you knew it they won. We played pretty darn good baseball for six innings," said Coach Hush. Jason Geurkink was the starting pitcher for B-W and pitched a great game. Dylan DeMotts came in to relieve Geurkink and also pitched well said Coach Hush. On Sunday B-W beat Ellsworth 13-3 in five innings to take home the third place trophy. In the championship game O-L beat New Richmond by 10 runs. "So we had a pretty good weekend but ran into a very good team," concluded Coach Hush. B-W's game scheduled for Friday at Osceola was postponed until this Wednesday, but may have to be canceled. Coach Hush said the Legion Tournament may begin Thursday. Coach Hush said he is sure there will be a tournament game or two this week, with place and times to be announced. He noted that the Legion Tournament is double elimination.

Flood plain shrinks with new bridge; "Safety Night Out" planned

Up to ten residences in the Village of Baldwin, all on the north side of the Baldwin Creek, will be out of the flood plain as a result of the new bridge being installed as part of the USH 63 upgrade project. In other action, the board approved the closure of Franklin Street between 6th and 8th Avenues for "Safety National Night Out," which is planned to be a part of "National Night Out" with the added element of safety incorporated. The event is planned for Saturday, August 2 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. The individuals who requested the street closure also asked if representatives of the police, fire and EMS could be present for a time during the event. About 80 residences would be within the area of the event. The information on the flood plain status in the village as related to the Baldwin Village Board at their regular monthly meeting last Wednesday, July 9 by village engineer Mike Stoffel of Ayers Associates, the village engineering firm. He said the new USH 63 bridge—or culvert—has a much larger capacity and thus will not impede the flow of water during high flows.

County Fair is this weekend

The St. Croix County Fair kicks off at the Glenwood City fairgrounds this Thursday, July 17 and continues through Sunday. The fair starts Thursday with a flag raising and open ceremony at 10:45 a.m. in Memorial Gardens (near Croix Court). The Horse pull starts at 6:30 p.m. At 8 p.m. the Fairest of the Fair Coronation will be held and The Huet Maker's/Badger Dutchman Band will perform at 8:30 p.m. A fun-packed Friday includes Dance Explosion at noon and 2, a kiddie tractor pull in front of the barns at 1:30 p.m. The St. Croix County Outstanding Older Adult award will be presented at 1 p.m. Jason Huneke, comedian and juggler will perform at 3 and 5 p.m. The WSCA Open Game show starts at 6 p.m. 4-H/FFA meat animal auction and St. Croix Valley Pullers Tractor Pull both start at 6:30 p.m. The Battle of the Bands will start at 7 p.m. at Croix Court and The Twerps will play at 9 in the beverage tent. Saturday starts out with ATV mudraces at 11 a.m., Lake Country Cloggers at noon and 2 p.m.. The St. Croix County Canine Unit at 1 p.m. the C.A.M.L. Treble Barbershop Quartet will perform at 3 and 5:30 p.m. 4x4 Mud Races at 7 p.m. The Memories and Stampede will perform in the evening. 4-H Key Awards and Scholarships will be presented at 10 p.m. A non-denominational church service starts at 9 a.m. Sunday. 4-H music at 10:45 a.m. At 11 a.m. there will be a living memorial award presentation, mud volleyball and an antique tractor and garden tractor pull. Ole and Elmer musical comedy starts at 11:15 a.m. and a Talent Show at 1 p.m. Enjoy Walk Around Entertainment by Karen Burrell on Friday and Saturday. Pony rides and a petting zoo will run throughout the weekend.