The Baldwin-Woodville Board of Education took the first formal steps in the building referendum process at the regular meeting Monday night. At last month's meeting, the board agreed upon June 3, 2008 for the date of the referendum; now two initial resolutions authorizing general obligation bonds and a resolution approving the form of notices and the official referendum ballot have been approved as required by law.
The two bond resolutions, one for a new intermediate school not to exceed $16,775,000, and another for an indoor swimming pool not to exceed $3,500,000 carried on a six to one vote. Voting yes were board members Mike Bondarenko, Todd Graf, Dustin Klanderman, Deb Rasmussen, Tom Schumacher and Jeff Campbell. Voting no was John Hinz.
The resolution approving the form of referendum notices and official referendum ballot was approved unanimously.
In discussion prior to the vote, Hinz asked if the increased borrowing affects the percentage of the school district's state aid, which is currently 68 percent. District financial advisor Steve Apfelbacher of Ehlers and Associates explained that there are no guarantees of state aid percentages from year to year regardless of debt. Each year the state figures state aid based upon all districts in the state. For the purposes of this project, Apfelbacher said he figured 63 percent state aid.
"What if the district's valuation goes down?" asked district resident Ken Rundhaug. "How does that affect our state aid?"
Apfelbacher said that's one of numerous variables that can affect a district's state aid percentage, either up or down. He said Ehlers and Associates bases their estimates on past and present information and past experience.
Rundhaug also suggested that school districts could re-align to spread students out to prevent over-crowding.
Superintendent Rusty Helland informed the board the new School Public Relations Committee met last week and the turnout was good. He said the group divided into two subcommittees: the hard copy committee and the electronic committee. Both will work to get referendum information out to the public. Helland said that four public informational meetings have also been scheduled. (Please see related story on this page.)
Sixth grade teaching team members Jarod Dachel, DeAnn Ashlin and Scott Benoy delivered a presentation to the board regarding gender specific classes. According to the team, having gender specific classes allows teachers to structure classes differently for boys and girls. Research has shown improved achievement at this age level in gender specific classes, Dachel said.
Benoy visited gender specific classes in Somerset, and met with teachers and students there. Although it's too early to measure the results with hard data, the staff and students were pleased with the situation there, he said.
The district's WCKE test results have shown statistically significant gender differences in academic achievement at the middle school and the team hopes to improve this through gender specific classes.
"We all know that boys and girls are different," said Benoy. "With these classes, the curriculum content stays the same, the way it is presented is different," he said.
The team said that research shows that grades four, five and six are the optimal time for gender specific classes.
Enrollment in gender specific classes will be voluntary, and the number of sections will depend upon how many students sign up this spring, according to the team.
A motion to approve open enrollment applications for the 2008-09 school year with one exception passed with a six to one vote. Voting yes were Bondarenko, Graf, Klanderman, Rasmussen, Schumacher and Campbell. Voting no was Hinz.
"Why are we accepting open enrollment students when we are crowded already?" asked Hinz.
"I look at it as a positive thing if students want to go to school here," responded Helland. "We would rather have increasing enrollment than declining and have to be cutting programs, like many districts around the state," he added.
The net number of open enrollment students is 20, according to Helland.
Following a closed session, the board approved re-admitting a student who had been expelled. The student has fulfilled the board's requirements for re-admittance. The student will be re-admitted April 1, the first day of the fourth quarter, said Helland.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Fitting tribute at final farwell
Bantam and varisty players of the Blackhawk Hockey Association paid a fitting tribute to Rose Schultz last Saturday at the conclusion of her funeral at Immaculate Conception Church in Hammond. The team members formed a canopy with their sticks during the recessional from the church and saluted with three raps on the ground. Rose, along with her husband Russ, has been a supporter of amateur hockey in the area since the inception of Blackhawk Hockey.
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Primary election moves Gherty and Cameron on
Mark J. Gherty with 4,593 votes and Howard Cameron with 3,077 votes were the top vote-getters in last Tuesday's primary election. Those two will move on to the general election in April.
Other candidates for the new judicial position for St. Croix County, and their vote totals, were: Carol L. Law 2,395; Charles B. Harris 2,107; and Ken Sortedahl 1,502. There were 45 write-in votes.
In the presidential preference primary, St. Croix County mirrored Wisconsin as a whole. On the Democratic side, Barak Obama received 5,467 votes in the county to top Hillary Clinton's 4,930 votes. Other candidates who have withdrawn from the race received a scattering of votes. On the Republican side, John McCain was the winner with 2,459 votes while Mike Huckabee was second with 1,597. Ron Paul received 381 votes and other candidates no longer in the running received a scattering of votes.
Other candidates for the new judicial position for St. Croix County, and their vote totals, were: Carol L. Law 2,395; Charles B. Harris 2,107; and Ken Sortedahl 1,502. There were 45 write-in votes.
In the presidential preference primary, St. Croix County mirrored Wisconsin as a whole. On the Democratic side, Barak Obama received 5,467 votes in the county to top Hillary Clinton's 4,930 votes. Other candidates who have withdrawn from the race received a scattering of votes. On the Republican side, John McCain was the winner with 2,459 votes while Mike Huckabee was second with 1,597. Ron Paul received 381 votes and other candidates no longer in the running received a scattering of votes.
Man shot by sheriff's deputy after threat
A standoff in the Town of Hammond late Saturday night with an allegedly suicidal man has left the man dead.
According to a news release from St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, at approximately 11:02 p.m. on Saturday, the Sheriff's Office was notified of a 9-1-1 call stating that Jacob Lee Sperl, 22, of 1848 60th Avenue in the Town of Hammond had made suicidal threats and was armed with a shotgun.
The caller said that in phone contact with Jacob, Jacob had indicated he had shells for the shotgun and was going to take his own life and "if the cops come up the driveway it will be too late."
The caller also said that Jacob's parents were in the residence and Jacob was outside the home.
At 11:16 p.m. St. Croix County Sheriff's Deputies arrived at the scene and parked on the road. The Deputies approached the residence on foot and as they were crossing the yard from the west, an unknown vehicle pulled into the driveway and stopped in front of the home. Two individuals got out of the vehicle and made contact with Jacob who was on the east side of the
residence's attached garage.
The two deputies continued to approach Jacob and the other two individuals. Jacob moved quickly away from the other two people and then reached down and picked up a shotgun laying on the ground.
A deputy yelled that "he has a gun," then ordered Jacob several times to put the gun down.
Jacob ignored the verbal commands, raised the shotgun and pointed it at one of the deputies. At that time both deputies discharged their weapons at Jacob, striking him.
Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and determined that Jacob was dead.
A examination of the shotgun determined that there was one round in the chamber. Nineteen additional shotgun rounds were found on Jacob's person.
Both the Sheriff's Deputies have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with Department policy, said the release from Sheriff Hillstead. The release said the incident remains under investigation by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and the St. Croix County Sheriff's
Department.
According to a news release from St. Croix County Sheriff Dennis Hillstead, at approximately 11:02 p.m. on Saturday, the Sheriff's Office was notified of a 9-1-1 call stating that Jacob Lee Sperl, 22, of 1848 60th Avenue in the Town of Hammond had made suicidal threats and was armed with a shotgun.
The caller said that in phone contact with Jacob, Jacob had indicated he had shells for the shotgun and was going to take his own life and "if the cops come up the driveway it will be too late."
The caller also said that Jacob's parents were in the residence and Jacob was outside the home.
At 11:16 p.m. St. Croix County Sheriff's Deputies arrived at the scene and parked on the road. The Deputies approached the residence on foot and as they were crossing the yard from the west, an unknown vehicle pulled into the driveway and stopped in front of the home. Two individuals got out of the vehicle and made contact with Jacob who was on the east side of the
residence's attached garage.
The two deputies continued to approach Jacob and the other two individuals. Jacob moved quickly away from the other two people and then reached down and picked up a shotgun laying on the ground.
A deputy yelled that "he has a gun," then ordered Jacob several times to put the gun down.
Jacob ignored the verbal commands, raised the shotgun and pointed it at one of the deputies. At that time both deputies discharged their weapons at Jacob, striking him.
Emergency medical personnel arrived at the scene and determined that Jacob was dead.
A examination of the shotgun determined that there was one round in the chamber. Nineteen additional shotgun rounds were found on Jacob's person.
Both the Sheriff's Deputies have been placed on administrative leave in accordance with Department policy, said the release from Sheriff Hillstead. The release said the incident remains under investigation by the Pierce County Sheriff's Department and the St. Croix County Sheriff's
Department.
BTI and B-W partner to launch school channel
Baldwin Telecom presented a donation last Friday to Baldwin-Woodville Schools to help with programming costs for the new school channel. Pictured from left to right are Wade Labecki, athletic director, Eric Russell, B-W High School Principal, Pat Beierman, B-W High School teacher, Larry Knegendorf, BTI general manager, and Matt Sparks, BTI operations manager.Local telephone and cable company, Baldwin Telecom, has partnered with the Baldwin-Woodville School District to produce a school television channel on the local cable system. The programming can be found on Channel 18 on the BTI cable system. It will include schedules, announcements, menus, drama and music production and high school sports.
"Our company is very proud to be a part of working with Pat Beierman of the B-W schools to bring access to a school channel," said BTI manager Larry Knegendorf. "I would like to thank our team of employees at BTI for making this happen and the B-W school staff."
Baldwin Telecom presented a donation for $2000 on Friday to the school to help with costs associated with programming for the school channel.
"The school channel has been on the air for about three months and continues to get better and better," Knegendorf noted. "The school is responsible for the programming on the channel and many students are involved with making that happen."
Chamber Annual meeting held Monday
Outgoing Baldwin Area Chamber of Commerce President Allene Eggen, left, and incoming President Sonya Jansma participated in the traditional "passing of the wooden shoes" ritual at the Chamber's annual meeting held Monday evening, February 25 at Kilkarney Hills Golf Club.
Fire destroys barn, 40 head of stock in sub-zero cold
Billowing clouds of smoke combined with steam emanated from a barn fire east of Baldwin last Wednesday morning at the Mike Haller farm. Firefighters fought the fire and then remained on the scene for cleanup well into the evening hours.Mike Haller, engaged in the terrible work of removing animal carcasses Monday morning, took a brief time out to talk about his plans for the future. He mentioned beef or raising heifers as possibilities.
Whatever the future holds for Haller, it won't be dairying, he said. "The dairy industry is too tough for the small farmer," he said.
United Fire and Rescue and other emergency agencies were called to the Haller farm with the barn on fire about 5:50 Wednesday morning when the temperature hovered between -15° and -20° F. The farm is about two miles east of Baldwin on 230th Street.
Mike has spent his whole life on that farm and in 2001 he bought it from his grandfather, Galen Anderson. His grandparents still live with him on the farm.
The fire appears to have started in a light switch, Mike said he was told by an insurance adjuster. The adjuster said the barn is a total loss because even though the lower part of it is intact, water that has gotten into the cement blocks will freeze and crack and make it unusable.
Lost with the barn were close to 40 head of cows and calves, Mike said. He said he still has two dry cows and heifers that weren't inside the barn. Also lost in the fire were 800 bales of hay, 1,000 bales of straw and chopped straw.
The barn was metal sheathed, said Mike, and that metal probably is the reason that a close-by shed and a feed bin weren't also destroyed by the heat of the fire, although a beam did fall on an auger and damage that.
Baldwin Station Chief of United Fire and Rescue Gary Newton said there were apparently three injuries suffered by firefighters, although hopefully none will prove to be serious or permanent. One injury was to a knee, another to a back and a third firefighter suffered frostbite to his
face.
A total of about 185,000 gallons of water was poured on the fire and one of the firetrucks suffered a frozen line during the fight against the fire. Also responding to a mutual aid call were Roberts-Warren and Spring Valley.
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Board hears of ball field usage
The Baldwin Village Board held an extensive discussion regarding use of the village's ball field at Mill Pond Park. There are, sometimes, conflicting claims for use of the four fields with the various groups that use them, including summer recreation, traveling leagues, adult leagues and B-W High School baseball and softball teams. This is the first year of spring baseball for B-W HS.
The uses are still being sorted out but eventually scheduling of the fields will be the responsibility of Summer Recreation Director Jarod Dachel after priorities have been established, said Village Administrator Cindy Deringer.
In other action at the meeting:
-The board approved a modification to the village's subdivision ordinance raising the fee to developers to $150 from $50 in lieu of each tree a developer is required to plant in a subdivision. A brief hearing was held prior to the amendment to the ordinance and no one was present to comment. Village engineer Mike Stoffel explained that the increase is merely a reflection of the cost of trees.
-Don Somsen presented the annual report of Baldwin Hospital (Baldwin Area Medical Center) and following that the village board approved a resolution calling for the prepayment and redemption of the outstanding $1,770,000 taxable hospital mortgage revenue bond that was issued in 1998. The funds are available to the Hospital, Somsen said, and prepayment will
save the hospital over $19,000 a month in payments.
Hospital Administrator Greg Burns said "by paying it off earlier we'll save significant interest and improve our overall financial position."
On a roll call vote, all trustees and President McGee voted yes.
-The board approved installation of two flashing pedestrian cross walk beacons in the village. They will both be on USH 63 (Tenth Avenue), one at Oak Street and the other at Curtis Street. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will do the work as part of the upcoming 63 upgrade work and the village will reimburse the approximate $15,000 cost to the DOT.
-The board was informed that Stephanie Zacharias has withdrawn her
request for a Class A Beer and Class A Liquor License.
The uses are still being sorted out but eventually scheduling of the fields will be the responsibility of Summer Recreation Director Jarod Dachel after priorities have been established, said Village Administrator Cindy Deringer.
In other action at the meeting:
-The board approved a modification to the village's subdivision ordinance raising the fee to developers to $150 from $50 in lieu of each tree a developer is required to plant in a subdivision. A brief hearing was held prior to the amendment to the ordinance and no one was present to comment. Village engineer Mike Stoffel explained that the increase is merely a reflection of the cost of trees.
-Don Somsen presented the annual report of Baldwin Hospital (Baldwin Area Medical Center) and following that the village board approved a resolution calling for the prepayment and redemption of the outstanding $1,770,000 taxable hospital mortgage revenue bond that was issued in 1998. The funds are available to the Hospital, Somsen said, and prepayment will
save the hospital over $19,000 a month in payments.
Hospital Administrator Greg Burns said "by paying it off earlier we'll save significant interest and improve our overall financial position."
On a roll call vote, all trustees and President McGee voted yes.
-The board approved installation of two flashing pedestrian cross walk beacons in the village. They will both be on USH 63 (Tenth Avenue), one at Oak Street and the other at Curtis Street. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation will do the work as part of the upcoming 63 upgrade work and the village will reimburse the approximate $15,000 cost to the DOT.
-The board was informed that Stephanie Zacharias has withdrawn her
request for a Class A Beer and Class A Liquor License.
SnoDays royalty crowned
Mary Hovde was crowned Queen and Dan Barnes was crowned King at the conclusion of SnoDays Friday evening at B-W High School.
President's Day supper held
None other than the founder of our country himself, George Washington, and "Honest Abe" Abraham Lincoln were present at the Presidents' Day Patriotic Supper and Party held Saturday at the Baldwin American Legion hall.
Zac Weyer qualifies for State
Zac Weyer used an arm bar to gain back points on Jeremy Stenulson of Neillsville in the opening round of the Somerset Sectional. Weyer won an 8-4 decision and finished in third place at 130 pounds.Freshman Zac Weyer was the only wrestler from Baldwin-Woodville to qualify for the WIAA state individual tournament this year. Weyer finished in third place at 130 pounds last Saturday in the Somerset Sectional.
"Zac wrestled very well at times," Coach Jason Cimino commented. "I think he could have had a better showing in his two losses. He did beat two seniors."
Weyer opened the day with an 8-4 decision over Jeremy Stenulson of Neillsville, but was pinned by Derek Marten of Mondovi in the semifinal. In the consolation bracket Weyer pinned Bob Tahtinen of Northwestern and decisioned Mathew Hartmann of Durand 6-5 in the third place match.
Weyer had a chance to improve his finish to second when Marten won the 130 pound championship, but lost by pin to Zach Zehner of Tomahawk.
Spencer Corey, a junior, also won his first match with a pin over Jared Vroman of Barron at 189 pounds. But he lost an 8-2 decision to John Schoen (Neillsville) and a 4-1 decision to Frank Dobbs (Melrose-Mindoro/G.E.T.) to finish fourth. The top three finishers at sectional advance to the state tournament.
Junior Tyler Klund lost to Kaleb Stephens of Barron 3-0 and Chace Kinneman of Ellsworth 9-0 to be eliminated at 119 pounds.
Junior Hunter Campbell (160) and sophomore T.J. Lund (215) both lost in the opening round and did not get a chance for a wrestle back.
"If Hunter was healthy, I think he would have had a good shot at making it through," Cimino commented. "He beat one of the kids (that advanced) during the regular season before his injury.
"I look for all our sectional qualifiers to only get better. Spencer wrestled two of his best matches in his two losses."
Among the most improved wrestlers this season, Cimino named Lund, Dan Peterson and Matt Bonte.
Jason LaFavor, who had qualified for the sectional at 130 pounds, was unable to compete because of a virus.
"It was unfortunate, especially with Jason being a senior, but the rules are strict," Cimino said.
Weyer will face Ryan Baugnet, a senior from Denmark with a record of 37-8 in the preliminaries on Thursday night at the Kohl Center in Madison. Weyer brings a record of 33-7 to the state tournament.
"I don't know about the kid, but looking at his record, I would think Zac can compete with him," Cimino concluded. "The important thing is to get by that first match."
School board sets referendum date Swimming pool question to be posed
The Baldwin-Woodville Board of Education voted to schedule a building referendum for June 3, 2008 at the regular monthly meeting Monday evening. The referendum will have two questions, one for building a new intermediate school costing approximately $16.5 million, and the other for building an indoor swimming pool costing approximately $3.5 million.
The timing of the referendum was the subject of much discussion during the meeting. Board member John Hinz favored waiting until the general election in November for high voter turnout, but others expressed concern that waiting until that time would delay the project another construction season, causing inflation to increase the cost of the projects.
John Huenink of Kraus-Anderson Construction Company said construction costs increase an average of five percent a year, depending upon fuel costs, wage increases and materials. "Once a referendum is passed, the design team needs at least ten months to do the drawings," Huenink said. The bidding follows the design stage and Huenink said winter bidding is typically the most favorable time. "If the referendum is in June the bidding could be next February which is a good time," he said. Then construction could start during warmer weather, which saves on fuel
for heating, he added.
"Given the current space needs of the district, I think we need to have the referendum in June before school lets out," commented board member Deb Rasmussen.
Board member Tom Schumacher expressed concern that if the vote is scheduled for November and passes, construction wouldn't get started until 2010.
"If we do our job and get the information out to the public, people will get out and vote," added board member Todd Graf.
Superintendent Rusty Helland said the district needs facilities right now for present students. "It will be important to get the information out so the public would understand how inflation would affect the project," he said.
Hinz asked the district's financial advisor Steve Apfelbacher how the state's financial condition would affect B-W. Apfelbacher said the district is independent from the state as a far as acquiring debt.
Baldwin-Woodville has an excellent bond rating, Apfelbacher said, which is beneficial when negotiating interest rates.
"In terms of interest rates, rates are very competitive right now," Apfelbacher added.
Supt. Helland informed the board that the last special election held in December, 2000 cost $11,000. A regular election costs between $2,000 and $3,000 he said.
The board voted five to one to set the referendum date for June 3, 2008. Voting yes: Graf, Klanderman, Rasmussen, Schumacher, and Campbell. Voting no: Hinz. Board member Mike Bondarenko was absent.
A committee was established to get the information out to voters. Board members Graf, Rasmussen and Dustin Klanderman volunteered to serve on the committee. Supt. Helland said he has the names of several other volunteers from the public. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
During the open forum, district resident Larry Spoo asked the board if the purpose of the committee is to promote the referendum or to look at the pros and cons of the project.
"I think the purpose is to promote the project by getting the information out," answered board president Jeff Campbell.
"What is the plan if the enrollment goes down?" asked Spoo. "The committee needs to look at both sides," he said.
"Our job is to gather the information as it exists," said Schumacher, "and present it to the public for them to decide."
"The people's questions will be answered," added Campbell.
A motion to rescind a letter of intent to retire from Sandee Blakeley failed on a tie vote. Prior to the motion, Graf asked if her position had been advertised yet. Supt. Helland said no, the deadline for retirement notices is the end of February and the positions are then posted
in March.
After the motion there was no discussion. Voting yes: Graf, Rasmussen, and Campbell. Voting no: Hinz, Klanderman, and Schumacher. Absent: Bondarenko.
During the administrative reports, Supt. Helland thanked Baldwin Telecom for their assistance in setting up the B-W television station, channel 18. Baldwin Telecom Manager Larry Knegendorf will be presenting the district with another donation for the station this Friday at the High School, said Helland.
Director of Pupil Services Patti Phillipps commended Elementary School Counselor Carol Lebo for her work with the Department of Public Instruction on the Wisconsin Comprehensive School Counseling Model. The publication is a new resource and planning guide for school counselors.
Supt. Helland thanked Phillipps and district special education staff for their work completing exit surveys of all graduating students with IEPs (Individual Educational Plans). The surveys found that 100 percent of the students were involved in post-secondary education and/or employment one year out of school.
Viking Middle School Principal Hank Dupuis informed the board the First Bank of Baldwin recently donated $1,000 for the middle school after school study hall program.
Helland reported the second Friday enrollment figures from January 11, 2008 total 1515 students, up 26 over last year's figure of 1489.
The timing of the referendum was the subject of much discussion during the meeting. Board member John Hinz favored waiting until the general election in November for high voter turnout, but others expressed concern that waiting until that time would delay the project another construction season, causing inflation to increase the cost of the projects.
John Huenink of Kraus-Anderson Construction Company said construction costs increase an average of five percent a year, depending upon fuel costs, wage increases and materials. "Once a referendum is passed, the design team needs at least ten months to do the drawings," Huenink said. The bidding follows the design stage and Huenink said winter bidding is typically the most favorable time. "If the referendum is in June the bidding could be next February which is a good time," he said. Then construction could start during warmer weather, which saves on fuel
for heating, he added.
"Given the current space needs of the district, I think we need to have the referendum in June before school lets out," commented board member Deb Rasmussen.
Board member Tom Schumacher expressed concern that if the vote is scheduled for November and passes, construction wouldn't get started until 2010.
"If we do our job and get the information out to the public, people will get out and vote," added board member Todd Graf.
Superintendent Rusty Helland said the district needs facilities right now for present students. "It will be important to get the information out so the public would understand how inflation would affect the project," he said.
Hinz asked the district's financial advisor Steve Apfelbacher how the state's financial condition would affect B-W. Apfelbacher said the district is independent from the state as a far as acquiring debt.
Baldwin-Woodville has an excellent bond rating, Apfelbacher said, which is beneficial when negotiating interest rates.
"In terms of interest rates, rates are very competitive right now," Apfelbacher added.
Supt. Helland informed the board that the last special election held in December, 2000 cost $11,000. A regular election costs between $2,000 and $3,000 he said.
The board voted five to one to set the referendum date for June 3, 2008. Voting yes: Graf, Klanderman, Rasmussen, Schumacher, and Campbell. Voting no: Hinz. Board member Mike Bondarenko was absent.
A committee was established to get the information out to voters. Board members Graf, Rasmussen and Dustin Klanderman volunteered to serve on the committee. Supt. Helland said he has the names of several other volunteers from the public. The first meeting of the committee is scheduled for March 10 at 7:00 p.m.
During the open forum, district resident Larry Spoo asked the board if the purpose of the committee is to promote the referendum or to look at the pros and cons of the project.
"I think the purpose is to promote the project by getting the information out," answered board president Jeff Campbell.
"What is the plan if the enrollment goes down?" asked Spoo. "The committee needs to look at both sides," he said.
"Our job is to gather the information as it exists," said Schumacher, "and present it to the public for them to decide."
"The people's questions will be answered," added Campbell.
A motion to rescind a letter of intent to retire from Sandee Blakeley failed on a tie vote. Prior to the motion, Graf asked if her position had been advertised yet. Supt. Helland said no, the deadline for retirement notices is the end of February and the positions are then posted
in March.
After the motion there was no discussion. Voting yes: Graf, Rasmussen, and Campbell. Voting no: Hinz, Klanderman, and Schumacher. Absent: Bondarenko.
During the administrative reports, Supt. Helland thanked Baldwin Telecom for their assistance in setting up the B-W television station, channel 18. Baldwin Telecom Manager Larry Knegendorf will be presenting the district with another donation for the station this Friday at the High School, said Helland.
Director of Pupil Services Patti Phillipps commended Elementary School Counselor Carol Lebo for her work with the Department of Public Instruction on the Wisconsin Comprehensive School Counseling Model. The publication is a new resource and planning guide for school counselors.
Supt. Helland thanked Phillipps and district special education staff for their work completing exit surveys of all graduating students with IEPs (Individual Educational Plans). The surveys found that 100 percent of the students were involved in post-secondary education and/or employment one year out of school.
Viking Middle School Principal Hank Dupuis informed the board the First Bank of Baldwin recently donated $1,000 for the middle school after school study hall program.
Helland reported the second Friday enrollment figures from January 11, 2008 total 1515 students, up 26 over last year's figure of 1489.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Tasha Schuh Will Speak at CRC Youth Meeting
Tasha Schuh is a Christian motivational speaker who helps other Christians overcome challenges and struggles by giving a relevant message filled with humor and real life stories. Tasha grew up in Ellsworth and was a happy normal teenager. She was involved in sports, music, work and theater.Tasha's life changed dramatically when she was in an accident during a theater practice which left her paralyzed from the chest down. She now is traveling and speaking in the midwest to share her story of overcoming tragedy and living a life of purpose. Her goal is to help people know God more by inspiring, challenging, and encouraging others. She has two bachelors degrees and works part time at her church as the director of services.
Tasha will speak at a meeting of area youth groups on Wednesday, February 20 at 7:00 p.m. at the Christian Reformed Church a mile north of Baldwin on USH 63. A free will offering will be
taken to help pay for her expenses.
Fusion Finish Undefeated Season
The St. Croix Valley Fusion completed regular season play last week with three wins for finish with an undefeated 19-0-1 record.
The Fusion beat New Richmond 4-2 on Monday, Chippewa Falls 3-2 on Tuesday night and the Point-Rapids Red Panthers 5-3 on Saturday. The Fusion also wrapped up the Big Rivers Conference championship with win over Chiipewa Falls on Tuesday.
"It was quite a thrill for all of us to make it the entire year without a loss. We have a great coachable bunch of kids," said Coach Matt Cranston. "(Goalie coach) Ann Rock has done a fantastic job with Devin (Roen). We couldn't have pulled this off without assistant coach Karl Erickson, his hockey knowledge and great coaching. Karl is a student of the game."
It was all on the line to complete the undefeated season on Saturday afternoon against the fifth ranked team from Stevens Point/Wisconsin Rapids.
"We had to do it against a very good team," Cranston commented.
The Fusion got on board at the 6:59 mark when Amanda Robinson tooka pass from Tara Frey and fired a hard on-ice wrist shot from the point into the back of the Red Panther's net. The Red Panthers answered with a goal at the 12:10 mark ending the first period 1-1. Cranston scored four minutes in to the second period from Tanis Klingler. Five minutes later the Red Panthers tied it up again.
The Fusion popped in two goals in the last five minutes of the second period. Myrrhia Kleinbrook from Tara Frey and Frey from Lindquist from a 4-2 lead. Each team scored once in the third period. Nikki Plunkett scored for the Fusion.
The Fusion are the top seed in the region, so they get a bye in the first round. The Fusion will play the winner of Hudson and New Richmond on Tuesday the 19 in River Falls at 5:00 or 7:30 p.m. The winner of that game will play for the sectional championship in New Richmond Saturday, February 23.
The Fusion beat New Richmond 4-2 on Monday, Chippewa Falls 3-2 on Tuesday night and the Point-Rapids Red Panthers 5-3 on Saturday. The Fusion also wrapped up the Big Rivers Conference championship with win over Chiipewa Falls on Tuesday.
"It was quite a thrill for all of us to make it the entire year without a loss. We have a great coachable bunch of kids," said Coach Matt Cranston. "(Goalie coach) Ann Rock has done a fantastic job with Devin (Roen). We couldn't have pulled this off without assistant coach Karl Erickson, his hockey knowledge and great coaching. Karl is a student of the game."
It was all on the line to complete the undefeated season on Saturday afternoon against the fifth ranked team from Stevens Point/Wisconsin Rapids.
"We had to do it against a very good team," Cranston commented.
The Fusion got on board at the 6:59 mark when Amanda Robinson tooka pass from Tara Frey and fired a hard on-ice wrist shot from the point into the back of the Red Panther's net. The Red Panthers answered with a goal at the 12:10 mark ending the first period 1-1. Cranston scored four minutes in to the second period from Tanis Klingler. Five minutes later the Red Panthers tied it up again.
The Fusion popped in two goals in the last five minutes of the second period. Myrrhia Kleinbrook from Tara Frey and Frey from Lindquist from a 4-2 lead. Each team scored once in the third period. Nikki Plunkett scored for the Fusion.
The Fusion are the top seed in the region, so they get a bye in the first round. The Fusion will play the winner of Hudson and New Richmond on Tuesday the 19 in River Falls at 5:00 or 7:30 p.m. The winner of that game will play for the sectional championship in New Richmond Saturday, February 23.
Bus Crash Sends Passengers to Hospitals
It was as medical condition that caused a bus crash on I-94 at about milepost 21 and not a crash that caused medical problems to the driver of the bus on Thursday, February 7, according to emergency personnel at the scene.
According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a bus that had been traveling eastward crashed into the median of I-94 at 2:18 p.m. on February 7. The bus was operated by Tourcos Northern Tours of Eau Claire.
The driver of the bus was identified as Curtis D. Prindiville, 39 of Eau Claire. He was transported by ambulance to Luther Hospital in Eau Claire for treatment of an undisclosed medial condition.
The State Patrol said there were a total of 49 passengers.
Twenty passengers on the bus complained of sore backs or necks and were transported by ambulance to Baldwin Area Medical Center and other area hospitals for evaluation.
A total of 12 patients were taken to BAMC and all were seen by Dr. Joel Stoeckeler who was the emergency room physician on duty, according to Director of Patient Care Jean Peavey. All the injured came in by ambulance.
"I'm real proud of how well the staff handled the situation," noted Peavey. She said none of the injuries to the bus passengers were serious and all were discharged.
Other patients were taken to New Richmond, River Falls and Eau Claire.
According to Baldwin Station Chief Gary Newton of United Fire and Rescue, the other passengers on the bus who didn't complain of inures were all taken by a Baldwin-Woodville school bus to the Baldwin Municipal Center. They waited there until all the passengers who were taken to hospitals were reunited with them and then a bus took them all back to Eau Claire about 9:00 p.m. where they were able to pick up their luggage from the first bus that was in the accident. Newton said a van from the bus company was dispatched initially to transport those who sought medical treatment from the hospitals to the Municipal Center. It was only when everyone was present at the Municipal Center that the second bus left to make the trip to Eau Claire.
According to the Wisconsin State Patrol, a bus that had been traveling eastward crashed into the median of I-94 at 2:18 p.m. on February 7. The bus was operated by Tourcos Northern Tours of Eau Claire.
The driver of the bus was identified as Curtis D. Prindiville, 39 of Eau Claire. He was transported by ambulance to Luther Hospital in Eau Claire for treatment of an undisclosed medial condition.
The State Patrol said there were a total of 49 passengers.
Twenty passengers on the bus complained of sore backs or necks and were transported by ambulance to Baldwin Area Medical Center and other area hospitals for evaluation.
A total of 12 patients were taken to BAMC and all were seen by Dr. Joel Stoeckeler who was the emergency room physician on duty, according to Director of Patient Care Jean Peavey. All the injured came in by ambulance.
"I'm real proud of how well the staff handled the situation," noted Peavey. She said none of the injuries to the bus passengers were serious and all were discharged.
Other patients were taken to New Richmond, River Falls and Eau Claire.
According to Baldwin Station Chief Gary Newton of United Fire and Rescue, the other passengers on the bus who didn't complain of inures were all taken by a Baldwin-Woodville school bus to the Baldwin Municipal Center. They waited there until all the passengers who were taken to hospitals were reunited with them and then a bus took them all back to Eau Claire about 9:00 p.m. where they were able to pick up their luggage from the first bus that was in the accident. Newton said a van from the bus company was dispatched initially to transport those who sought medical treatment from the hospitals to the Municipal Center. It was only when everyone was present at the Municipal Center that the second bus left to make the trip to Eau Claire.
SnoDays at B-W this Week
Senior candidates for Queen and King of B-W's SnoDays celebration from left are Michelle Johnson, Dan Barnes, Carrie Vanasse, Nathan Zacharias, Dannel Kielmeyer, Tyler Howard, Mary Hovde and Eric Dorwin.
Underclass attendants from left are juniors Dylan DeMotts and Morgan Trunkel; sophomores Tanner Bee and Laci Moe; and freshmen Jake Keefer and Megan Smith.
Throughout the week a "Where's Cupid?" hunt will be held for class points. Class valentines will be judged.
During the week B-W High School will hold dress up days. Monday was Pajama Day; Tuesday is Ugly Sweater Day; Wednesday will be Cops, Robbers, and Cowboy Day; Thursday is Valentine Day; and Friday is Spirit Day.
A pep fest will be held Friday at 2:15. Activities included will be a Lip sync contest; male cheerleading; coaches/club advisors speeches, mattress races, saran wrap relay and balloon popping activity.
Following the boys basketball game Friday night against Somerset, a dance will be held beginning at 9:00 p.m. Coronation will begin at 9:30.
The entry fee for students is $3 and for adults it is $2.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
Plow Truck Total Loss
The Town of Emerald plow truck was out doing what plow trucks are supposed to be doing early evening Monday, February 3. But something unusual happened. About 6:30 p.m. United Fire and Rescue District was called to 240th Street in the Town of Emerald where the plow truck had caught fire. According to Baldwin Station Chief the newer plow truck was a total loss from the fire. He did not know the cause of the blaze.
Assemblyman John Murtha was Keynote Speaker at FBLA Conference
Wisconsin 29th Assembly District Representative John Murtha of Baldwin was the keynote speaker at the Wisconsin Region 1 FBLA Leadership Conference held at Baldwin-Woodville High School Saturday. The Conference was opened by Kalena Doffing, pictured, who serves as B-W FBLA Chapter President and Regional I Vice President.
According to B-W FBLA advisor Beth Patzke, the B-W Chapter did well in the day's competition with a third place finish overall of the 22 schools participating, which is the best finish for B-W ever. Nineteen of the 20 B-W participants finished in the top 10 in their categories and 13 of them will advance to the state competition with a finish in the top five.
Ms. Patzke was pleased not only with the B-W participants' finishes but also for all the help supplied by local people during the day. "Thanks to all the local judges and to the others who helped without whom we would not have been able to host the competition," she said.
According to B-W FBLA advisor Beth Patzke, the B-W Chapter did well in the day's competition with a third place finish overall of the 22 schools participating, which is the best finish for B-W ever. Nineteen of the 20 B-W participants finished in the top 10 in their categories and 13 of them will advance to the state competition with a finish in the top five.
Ms. Patzke was pleased not only with the B-W participants' finishes but also for all the help supplied by local people during the day. "Thanks to all the local judges and to the others who helped without whom we would not have been able to host the competition," she said.
Cheerleaders Entertained at Halftime Friday Night
The Baldwin-Woodville wrestling, hockey and basketball cheerleaders teamed up Friday night at the B-W/Durand boys basketball game to perform a dance-gymnastic routine as entertainment at halftime.
"Table of Knowledge" Straw Poll
Pastor Paul Lovestrand, standing in the picture above, took a straw poll last week of the presidential preferences of members of the "table of knowledge" men's coffee group. Of nine voting in that poll, there were three votes for Barak Obama, two each for John Edwards and Mike Huckabee, one each for Mitt Romney and Hillary Clinton. Candidates who received no votes in that poll were Rudy Guliani and John McCain.
Again on Monday of this week, with the field narrowed, Pastor Lovestrand took a straw poll with these results: one abstention; four for Clinton; two each for Obama nad Romney; and one each for McCain and Huckabee.
United Fire Received $157,000 Grant
The racks of present United Fire and Rescue District turnout gear will be replaced with up-to-date gear with a grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security.
United Fire and Rescue District has received a grant of $157,985 for purchase of pagers and turnout gear from the United States Department of Homeland Security.
The grant will be for purchase of pagers and turnout gear, according to a news release from Chief Reid Berger and Ken Peterson, President of the District's Board of Directors.
The grant from the 2007 "Assistance to Firefighters' Grant Program," totaled $166,300. However, United Fire and Rescue District is responsible for 5% of the total cost, so will receive $157,985.
The funds from Homeland Security will be used to purchase 80 new sets of turnout gear, or one set for every firefighter in the District. There will also be funds for 65 new pagers.
Turnout gear includes: helmet, coat, bunker pants, boots, gloves and hoods. The current sets used by United Fire are 10 years old and do not meet the latest National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) standards. The new coats will have DRD, for drag-rescue-device, which is a heavy webbed rope on the back which facilitates the rescue of an incapacitate firefighter. Turnout gear is insulated and waterproof.
United Fire and Rescue District is a combined fire department with stations in Baldwin, Woodville and Hammond. It serves the villages of: Baldwin, Hammond, Wilson and Woodville; and the towns of Baldwin, Cady, Eau Galle, Emerald, Erin Prairie, Hammond, Pleasant Valley, Rush River and Springfield.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
B-W High School to Host FBLA Conference
Baldwin-Woodville High School can be a busy place on more than weekdays and week nights.
On Saturday the school, and the B-W Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of American, will host over 400 participants from 22 northwest Wisconsin school districts in the Region 1 FBLA Leadership Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Leadership in Action!"
Also on Saturday, B-W High School will be the site of the Middle Border Conference wrestling tournament.
The FBLA leadership conference will open at 9:00 a.m. with a call to order by Kalena Doffing of B-W who also serves as Region 1 FBLA vice president. Also participating in the opening ceremony will be B-W students Tiffany Loftus and Mallory Precht and B-W High School Principal Eric Russell.
Event competitions will begin at 9:45 with two sessions in more than 40 categories. The competitions will be held in rooms throughout the High School. Local area business people, B-W teachers and parents of B-W FBLA students will all be helping at the competition sessions.
State Representative John Murtha will present the keynote speech to the Conference at 1:00. Following will be election of Region I vice president and presentation of awards.
This is the third FBLA Regional Conference that B-W has hosted. The last one was in 2004.
The participating schools in addition to B-W include: Augusta, Barron, Birchwood, Boyceville, Cadott, Cameron, Chetek, Colfax, Eau Claire Memorial, Fall Creek, Glenwood City, Hayward, Menomonie, New Richmond, Northwestern, Osceola, Rice Lake, River Falls, Somerset, Stanley-Boyd and Superior Senior.
On Saturday the school, and the B-W Chapter of the Future Business Leaders of American, will host over 400 participants from 22 northwest Wisconsin school districts in the Region 1 FBLA Leadership Conference. The theme of this year's conference is "Leadership in Action!"
Also on Saturday, B-W High School will be the site of the Middle Border Conference wrestling tournament.
The FBLA leadership conference will open at 9:00 a.m. with a call to order by Kalena Doffing of B-W who also serves as Region 1 FBLA vice president. Also participating in the opening ceremony will be B-W students Tiffany Loftus and Mallory Precht and B-W High School Principal Eric Russell.
Event competitions will begin at 9:45 with two sessions in more than 40 categories. The competitions will be held in rooms throughout the High School. Local area business people, B-W teachers and parents of B-W FBLA students will all be helping at the competition sessions.
State Representative John Murtha will present the keynote speech to the Conference at 1:00. Following will be election of Region I vice president and presentation of awards.
This is the third FBLA Regional Conference that B-W has hosted. The last one was in 2004.
The participating schools in addition to B-W include: Augusta, Barron, Birchwood, Boyceville, Cadott, Cameron, Chetek, Colfax, Eau Claire Memorial, Fall Creek, Glenwood City, Hayward, Menomonie, New Richmond, Northwestern, Osceola, Rice Lake, River Falls, Somerset, Stanley-Boyd and Superior Senior.
DayAway Benefits Both Caregivers and Those Suffering from Memory Loss
Gina Evenson, center, is pictured with two DayAway participants at the Woodville Senior Center where they meet Fridays. Evenson is the DayAway manager of both the Woodville and New Richmond sites. She is pictured with Virgil Larson and Zella Schlegel, two individuals who make use of the DayAway program.
According to Gina Evenson, DayAway manager of both the Woodville and New Richmond sites, DayAway is primarily intended as a respite program for caregivers of people who suffer from diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's or other memory problems, but in some cases other debilitating problems will also be accepted for the program. In addition to giving caregivers a respite from the care required for patients with memory problems, the participants enjoy games, treats, exercise, lunch and sometimes field trips.
Evenson said the program is sponsored by the St. Croix County Office on Aging. The program is held four times a week: in Hudson on Monday and Thursday; in New Richmond on Tuesday and in Woodville on Friday. The program lasts usually for about six hours.
People from other counties in addition to St. Croix are welcome in the program, said Evenson. She added that volunteers are available to provide transportation to participants.
According to Gina Evenson, DayAway manager of both the Woodville and New Richmond sites, DayAway is primarily intended as a respite program for caregivers of people who suffer from diagnosis of dementia or Alzheimer's or other memory problems, but in some cases other debilitating problems will also be accepted for the program. In addition to giving caregivers a respite from the care required for patients with memory problems, the participants enjoy games, treats, exercise, lunch and sometimes field trips.
Evenson said the program is sponsored by the St. Croix County Office on Aging. The program is held four times a week: in Hudson on Monday and Thursday; in New Richmond on Tuesday and in Woodville on Friday. The program lasts usually for about six hours.
People from other counties in addition to St. Croix are welcome in the program, said Evenson. She added that volunteers are available to provide transportation to participants.
Gloria Fern Honored for 16 years Leading CROP Walk
Gloria Fern of Baldwin was honored last week by members of the current Mid-St. Croix CROP Walk for Hunger Committee for leading the effort for 16 years. Fern, second from right, received a certificate for her work. She is pictured with current CROP Walk Committee members Gerard Buechter, left, Don Johnson, second from left, and Susie Beedle, right.
Burglary Investigation Recovers Hundreds of Suspected Stolen Items
A joint burglary investigation by the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, City of Bayport Police Department and Washington County Sheriff's Department have recovered hundreds of suspected stolen items. Items range from power hand tools to home interior items believed to come from model homes.
The suspects have been involved in burglarious activities for well over a year and may have committed burglaries as far back as 2001. Targeted areas are mainly in the east metro and western Wisconsin. Confirmed burglaries committed by the suspects are from model homes, storage units, construction sites and general residential and business burglaries.
Photographs of the seized property can be located on the St. Croix County website at: www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/ follow the link for burglary investigation.
A showing of the seized property is planned for Thursday, February 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Bayport Police Department and St. Croix County Sheriff's Department. Victims are requested to contact the agency the burglary was reported, the investigating officer and obtain a case report
or a detailed list of stolen items.
Anyone who has been a victim of a burglary and wishes to view the property please contact Investigator Jim Mikla, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, 715-381-4319, jimm@co.saint-croix.wi.us. Victims from Minnesota should contact Chief Laura Eastman, Bayport Police Department,
651-275-4412, leastman@ci.bayport.mn.us.
The suspects have been involved in burglarious activities for well over a year and may have committed burglaries as far back as 2001. Targeted areas are mainly in the east metro and western Wisconsin. Confirmed burglaries committed by the suspects are from model homes, storage units, construction sites and general residential and business burglaries.
Photographs of the seized property can be located on the St. Croix County website at: www.co.saint-croix.wi.us/ follow the link for burglary investigation.
A showing of the seized property is planned for Thursday, February 7 from 1 to 5 p.m. at the Bayport Police Department and St. Croix County Sheriff's Department. Victims are requested to contact the agency the burglary was reported, the investigating officer and obtain a case report
or a detailed list of stolen items.
Anyone who has been a victim of a burglary and wishes to view the property please contact Investigator Jim Mikla, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, 715-381-4319, jimm@co.saint-croix.wi.us. Victims from Minnesota should contact Chief Laura Eastman, Bayport Police Department,
651-275-4412, leastman@ci.bayport.mn.us.
Amery Man Killed Friday in Car-Truck Crash
The scene looking north of a fatal accident north of Baldwin on USH 63 is pictured above. The semi-truck with a propane tank was north bound when it struck a southbound 1999 Olds Alero that drifted over the center line, according to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department. The two
vehicles crashed head-on. The semi-tanker ended up partly in the west ditch, at the intersection with Spruce Road. A large tow truck was necessary to pull the semi truck out of the ditch. A United Fire and Rescue truck stood by while the operation took place.
A man from Amery headed to work in Baldwin was killed north of Baldwin on USH 63 early Friday morning, January 25, when his car collided with a semi-truck with a full load of propane.
According to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, Paul Thiel, 46, of rural Amery was driving a 1999 Olds Alero southbound on USH 63 when his car drifted left over the center line into the northbound lane of traffic. It collided with the semi-truck driven by Gary Hutter, 48, of Maiden Rock. The accident took place just north of 110th Avenue in the Town of Baldwin. The semi-truck came to rest in the west ditch of 63 at its intersection with Spruce Road.
Thiel was transported to Baldwin Area Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Hutter was treated and released at Baldwin Area Medical Center.
Removing the semi-truck with the load of propane proved to be a difficult and time-consuming chore. While that was being accomplished, traffic was detoured on Spruce Drive and 210th Avenue. The truck was finally removed from the scene about 11:00 a.m. Staying on the scene during the removal of the truck were personnel from the Wisconsin State Patrol, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, United Fire and Rescue as well as the St. Croix County Highway Department who helped set up and man the detour.
According to emergency workers on the scene, the semi-truck's tank contained about 9,100 gallons of propane.
Thiel was the first traffic fatality of 2008 in St. Croix County. The Sheriff's Department release said the accident remains under investigation by the State Patrol and Sheriff's Department.
vehicles crashed head-on. The semi-tanker ended up partly in the west ditch, at the intersection with Spruce Road. A large tow truck was necessary to pull the semi truck out of the ditch. A United Fire and Rescue truck stood by while the operation took place.
A man from Amery headed to work in Baldwin was killed north of Baldwin on USH 63 early Friday morning, January 25, when his car collided with a semi-truck with a full load of propane.
According to the St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, Paul Thiel, 46, of rural Amery was driving a 1999 Olds Alero southbound on USH 63 when his car drifted left over the center line into the northbound lane of traffic. It collided with the semi-truck driven by Gary Hutter, 48, of Maiden Rock. The accident took place just north of 110th Avenue in the Town of Baldwin. The semi-truck came to rest in the west ditch of 63 at its intersection with Spruce Road.
Thiel was transported to Baldwin Area Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Hutter was treated and released at Baldwin Area Medical Center.
Removing the semi-truck with the load of propane proved to be a difficult and time-consuming chore. While that was being accomplished, traffic was detoured on Spruce Drive and 210th Avenue. The truck was finally removed from the scene about 11:00 a.m. Staying on the scene during the removal of the truck were personnel from the Wisconsin State Patrol, St. Croix County Sheriff's Department, United Fire and Rescue as well as the St. Croix County Highway Department who helped set up and man the detour.
According to emergency workers on the scene, the semi-truck's tank contained about 9,100 gallons of propane.
Thiel was the first traffic fatality of 2008 in St. Croix County. The Sheriff's Department release said the accident remains under investigation by the State Patrol and Sheriff's Department.
Tuesday, January 22, 2008
Badger Visits Greenfield
Cody Rose, the son of Barry and Tammy Rose, and a red-shirt freshman member of the Wisconsin Badgers, visited Jeremy Nygaard's third grade class at Greenfield last week to tell the children about his experience as a member of the team and the experience of traveling to the Outback Bowl in Florida. Cody also amazed the students with several card tricks while visiting with the class.
Five Fatalities on Pierce County Roads Over the Weekend
It was a dangerous weekend on roads in Pierce County as four area people-including a Roberts resident-lost their lives in three separate traffic crashes.
In a one-vehicle accident Friday night, 31-year-old Brian D. O'Keefe, a resident of Roberts, was killed, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, which was notified of the crash about 9:44 p.m.
Mark R. Anderson, 51, of Ellsworth, died as a result of losing control of his vehicle and entering the ditch at about 2:48 a.m. Sunday.
In another accident, Alice Tiedke, 63, and her passenger, Arnold Tiedke, died of injuries received when their vehicle crossed the center line of US 10 about two miles west of Plum City and collided with another vehicle about 1:00 p.m.
The Sheriff's Department said that the first accident happened when a pickup truck went out of control and flipped about two miles southwest of Spring Valley near the intersection of 290th Street and 730th Avenue. Another man in the vehicle, Ryan N. Peterson and O'Keefe were both ejected from the truck. O'Keefe was taken to Baldwin Area Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Peterson was taken by air ambulance to Regions Medical Center in St. Paul with undetermined injuries. The report did not say who was driving the pickup and the crash remains under investigation.
Anderson was northbound on 810th Street about two miles west of Ellsworth when he lost control of his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
In the crash that killed Alice and Arnold Tiedke, their vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by Trisha Nelson, 28, of Plum City. She was transported to Region's Medical Center in St. Paul. Her passengers, Ashley Blue, 8, of Plum City, and Aaron Nelson, 2, of Plum City, were also hospitalized at area hospitals with injuries that were not specified.
In a one-vehicle accident Friday night, 31-year-old Brian D. O'Keefe, a resident of Roberts, was killed, according to the Pierce County Sheriff's Department, which was notified of the crash about 9:44 p.m.
Mark R. Anderson, 51, of Ellsworth, died as a result of losing control of his vehicle and entering the ditch at about 2:48 a.m. Sunday.
In another accident, Alice Tiedke, 63, and her passenger, Arnold Tiedke, died of injuries received when their vehicle crossed the center line of US 10 about two miles west of Plum City and collided with another vehicle about 1:00 p.m.
The Sheriff's Department said that the first accident happened when a pickup truck went out of control and flipped about two miles southwest of Spring Valley near the intersection of 290th Street and 730th Avenue. Another man in the vehicle, Ryan N. Peterson and O'Keefe were both ejected from the truck. O'Keefe was taken to Baldwin Area Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. Peterson was taken by air ambulance to Regions Medical Center in St. Paul with undetermined injuries. The report did not say who was driving the pickup and the crash remains under investigation.
Anderson was northbound on 810th Street about two miles west of Ellsworth when he lost control of his vehicle. He was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash.
In the crash that killed Alice and Arnold Tiedke, their vehicle collided with a vehicle driven by Trisha Nelson, 28, of Plum City. She was transported to Region's Medical Center in St. Paul. Her passengers, Ashley Blue, 8, of Plum City, and Aaron Nelson, 2, of Plum City, were also hospitalized at area hospitals with injuries that were not specified.
Cub Scouts Hold Pinewood Derby
Pack 110 winners first place, Ben Stiller, Tiger; second place, Michael Cadalbert, Wolf; third place, Jonathan Stiller, Bear, fourth place, Jake Scobey, Bear; fifth place, Luke Schmit, Webelos 5; sixth place, Joe Jelen, Webelos 4; and seventh place, Jack Kaiser, Tiger.
The Baldwin-Woodville Cub Scouts held their annual Pinewood Derby at the Baldwin American Legion Saturday. Race time began at 1:00 p.m. with 57 scouts entering in the big race! They handcarved and decorated a piece of wood into their very own personalized race car. There were some very clever cars created this year.
The winners are as follows: Pack 110 Winners: first place, Ben Stiller, Tiger; second place, Michael Cadalbert, Wolf, third place, Jonathan Stiller, Bear; fourth place, Jake Scobey, Bear; fifth place, Luke Schmit, Webelos 5; sixth place, Joe Jelen, Webelos 4; seventh place, Jack Kaiser, Tiger.
Tiger Den 1 winners Zach Liston, first place; Blake Warren, second place; Derek Peterson, third place; Tiger Den 2 Winners Max Krueger, first place; Kaleb Berning, second place; Cooper Benson, third place. Wolf Den 1 winners Sam Benoy, first place; Nick Wlodyga, second place; Tyler Kennett, third place. Bear Den 1 winners Ben Stock, first place; Brock Berres, second place; Matthew Berg, third place. Bear Den 2 winners Matthew Barnett, first place; Cole Skeleton, second place; Ethan Skoviera, third place. Webelos Den 4 Winners Zach Almquist, first place; Nicholas Frey, second place; Kullan Wittmann, third place. Webelos Den 5 winners Matthew Cadalbert, first place; Zach Wurtzel, second place; Brady Pedersen, third place.
SMART Boards Allow Interactive Computer Screen Display
Greenfield Elementary second grade teacher Dana Ducklow is one of the teachers who has had an interactive SMART Board installed in her classroom.As technology marches on, schools strive to keep up. At Baldwin-Woodville Schools some new technology has just been installed at all three schools.
SMART Boards, computer interactive whiteboards, have been installed in all three educational buildings in the B-W district.
According to Lisa Magnuson, B-W's Technology-Curriculum Director/Technician, 13 of the SMART Boards have been installed in classrooms at the High School, Viking Middle School and Greenfield Elementary.
"It's very exciting because the world now becomes our classroom," said Magnuson. She said a class studying the art in the Louve Museum can go to the Louve web site and take a guided tour. Geometry can be taught in 3-D and manipulated on screen. "I think it's going to become an indispensable teaching tool.
The SMART Boards not only communicate with the teacher's computer and displays the computer screen, but also allows touch operation of the computer from the board. All that takes place on the board can be saved on the computer for review. For instance, said Magnuson, a lesson could be posted to a teacher's web site and someone who was absent could see what was covered in class. The computer screen is projected to the whiteboard by a projector installed in the ceiling.
There have been five SMART Boards installed at Greenfield, one for each grade level; four at Viking; and four at the High School, one of which is a mobile unit.
At Greenfield Elementary second grade teacher Dana Ducklow has a SMART Board installed in her classrooms and students have already been learning from them. She said her students have been actively learning from the SMART Board and enjoy it and she and the students are learning from each other.
Each of the SMART Boards cost between $4,000 and $5,000, including installation. They were purchased from and installed by a company called Computer Integrated Technology of Woodbury, Minn.
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Bakers Plan BP Convenience Store Next to Woodville Motel
Although immersed in one large project, Steve and Cheryl Baker, owners of the Woodville Motel since January 31 of last year are set to jump into another large project.Since purchasing the Woodville Motel, located on CTH B at the I-94 interchange, from Nylesh Purohit, the Bakers have remodeled the lobby area and are remodeling the motel's rooms one-by-one.
On November 30 last year the Bakers bought the former Mobile Station at the driveway entrance to the Woodville Motel and are set to build and operate a BP Convenience store on the site.
The present building of 1,600 square feet will be replaced with a much larger 3,200 square foot store. The Bakers will own and operate the store in affiliation with Bob and Steve's BP, which operates several other stores in this area. "It will be our store with their help," said Steve of
the affiliation.
The Bakers plan to break ground for the new store February 12 and be open for business on June 1. They said the excavator and contractor for the building project are lined up and ready to go.
The Bakers explained that they are transplants from Minnesota. Prior to purchasing the Woodville Motel Steve had worked in the cable industry, ending as the director of engineering for ComCast when the company was downsized.
Cheryl has an MBA in marketing management and has worked in the health care industry, which she continues to do through tele-commuting. She works for United Health Care Group out of Wausau, in pharmaceutical benefit management, or management of prescription drugs.
Since buying the motel Steve has completed the lobby remodeling and four bathrooms of the 16 unit motel. He will also be installing new carpeting and walls, but noted that all the units are usable at present.
"They are in very good condition now," said Cheryl. "We're just trying to upgrade."
Most units also have a microwave and small refrigerator and the motel offers free wireless internet and local and long distance telephone calls. Cheryl said the motel is "pet friendly."
Also planned is paving the parking lot this summer. Other future plans being discussed are a camp site on the seven acre parcel the Bakers own.
First Baby of 2008 Born at BAMC
Braelynn Rose Dawson was the first baby of 2008 born at Baldwin Area Medical Center. She was born Friday, January 4 at 1:13 p.m. with Dr. Russell Roloff attending. She weighed in at six pounds, 11.7 ounces and was 19-1/2 inches long. Braelynn is pictured above held by her mother, Amanda Dawson of Hammond, and Bonnie Berger representing the BAMC Auxiliary who presented her with a savings bond.
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Virtual School Opportunities Through Baldwin-Woodville Schools
The Baldwin-Woodville School District is currently offering virtual schooling opportunities for students in grades five through 12, according to Superintendent Rusty Helland.
"This year we have three middle school students and one high school student participating in virtual school," said Helland. "We use the resources of CESA (Cooperative Educational Service Agencies) 9 to provide classes for our students," he added.
This is one of several different options for students to receive their education, said Helland. According to High School Principal Eric Russell B-W also offers online components to classes directly from local high school teachers in English, history and others.
Enrolling students in virtual school at Baldwin-Woodville is a win-win situation for families and the district, said Helland. The students are included in the district's enrollment, which determines state aid, and the district pays for the students classes.
For information about educational opportunities at Baldwin-Woodville, contact Supt. Helland at the district office, 684-3411.
"This year we have three middle school students and one high school student participating in virtual school," said Helland. "We use the resources of CESA (Cooperative Educational Service Agencies) 9 to provide classes for our students," he added.
This is one of several different options for students to receive their education, said Helland. According to High School Principal Eric Russell B-W also offers online components to classes directly from local high school teachers in English, history and others.
Enrolling students in virtual school at Baldwin-Woodville is a win-win situation for families and the district, said Helland. The students are included in the district's enrollment, which determines state aid, and the district pays for the students classes.
For information about educational opportunities at Baldwin-Woodville, contact Supt. Helland at the district office, 684-3411.
Candidates selected SCC and B-W Boards of Education
Only the two incumbents have filed nomination papers for re-election for the Baldwin-Woodville Area Board of Education, according to Administrative Assistant Suzanne Zimmer at the B-W Superintendent's office.
The two incumbents who have filed for re-election are: Dustin Klanderman and Todd Graf. Theirs are the only seats up for election this spring on April 1. Deadline for filing was Wednesday, January 2.
For the St. Croix Central Board of Education there are two seats up for election and both incumbents have filed for re-election. They are John Hueg and David Olsen.
Municipal - For the Village of Baldwin, two candidates were nominated for the Municipal Judge position at caucus held Wednesday, January 9. They are incumbent Howard Ott and challenger Tammy Hovde. The three incumbents were nominated for the trustee positions that are up for election on April 1.
They are: Greg Larson, Claire Stein and Willie Zevenbergen.
For the Village of Woodville, only two persons filed nomination papers for three trustee positions that will be filled in the spring election. They are incumbents Barry Ketchum and Steve Gossel. The third incumbent, Ivan Clausen, did not filed nomination papers. Linda Duval, the incumbent Municipal Judge, filed nomination papers for re-election.
For the Village of Hammond, nomination papers were due January 2 and two incumbents filed and one former trustee. Both Steve Peterson and Chris Buckel filed papers for re-election. Incumbent trustee Brenda Monroe did not file. However, for the third trustee position up for
election in the April election former board member Wally Graf did file.
The two incumbents who have filed for re-election are: Dustin Klanderman and Todd Graf. Theirs are the only seats up for election this spring on April 1. Deadline for filing was Wednesday, January 2.
For the St. Croix Central Board of Education there are two seats up for election and both incumbents have filed for re-election. They are John Hueg and David Olsen.
Municipal - For the Village of Baldwin, two candidates were nominated for the Municipal Judge position at caucus held Wednesday, January 9. They are incumbent Howard Ott and challenger Tammy Hovde. The three incumbents were nominated for the trustee positions that are up for election on April 1.
They are: Greg Larson, Claire Stein and Willie Zevenbergen.
For the Village of Woodville, only two persons filed nomination papers for three trustee positions that will be filled in the spring election. They are incumbents Barry Ketchum and Steve Gossel. The third incumbent, Ivan Clausen, did not filed nomination papers. Linda Duval, the incumbent Municipal Judge, filed nomination papers for re-election.
For the Village of Hammond, nomination papers were due January 2 and two incumbents filed and one former trustee. Both Steve Peterson and Chris Buckel filed papers for re-election. Incumbent trustee Brenda Monroe did not file. However, for the third trustee position up for
election in the April election former board member Wally Graf did file.
Village Board Approves Liquor License
On a preliminary basis, the Baldwin Village Board gave approval for a second liquor store license for the village.
The liquor store license, officially known as Class A beer and Class A liquor, was on the agenda for review and was requested by Stephanie Zacharias. She told the board that if she could secure a license, she would like to open a store in the eight unit strip mall at the southwest corner of the I-94/USH 63 interchange, known as Baldwin Retail.
There is no population requirement imposed as part of liquor licenses, but other requests in the past have been turned down by the board.
Trustee Claire Stein said he supported issuing the license because it would be good for competition and would be good for the village's tax base.
On a voice vote the board approved issuing the license, contingent on a site for the store being secured. There were no no votes, but Village President Don McGee announced he abstained from the vote because of a conflict with his son's employment.
In other action at the meeting, the board heard a presentation by Dave Carlson about financing for the proposed upgrade of Baldwin's wastewater treatment plant. (It should be noted somewhere, and here is as good as anywhere, that an upgrade would not be paid for by taxes, but rather by user fees-sanitary sewer charges are billed by the village on a quarterly basis.)
Carlson said the village has a choice in how to pay for the plant expansion, that will cost in the neighborhood of $5,000,000. He said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers money from their "Clean Water Fund," at an interest rate of probably 2.75%.
The federally funded Rural Development Corporation offers an interest rate of 4.375%, but would also offer a $500,000 grant. The Rural Development money also comes with more paperwork attached, which may prove to be expensive.
Carlson said that the best interest rate from the DNR fund would result in about $317,000 in interest payments, and even with the best rate from Rural Development it would require a grant of about $900,000 to lessen its payments to those from the DNR fund. In addition, the Rural Development loan may have a "blended" interest rate because different aged areas of the village would be served, thus further increasing the interest differential.
"My personal feeling is let's go with the Clean Water Fund," said President McGee. "It's a lot simpler" and it's the route the village has chosen in the past.
Village Engineer Mike Stoffel added that the village isn't "skipping free money" by turning down the grant from Rural Development because its costs money to receive it and the interest rate would be higher.
The village board passed a motion to utilize the DNR's Clean Water Fund.
The liquor store license, officially known as Class A beer and Class A liquor, was on the agenda for review and was requested by Stephanie Zacharias. She told the board that if she could secure a license, she would like to open a store in the eight unit strip mall at the southwest corner of the I-94/USH 63 interchange, known as Baldwin Retail.
There is no population requirement imposed as part of liquor licenses, but other requests in the past have been turned down by the board.
Trustee Claire Stein said he supported issuing the license because it would be good for competition and would be good for the village's tax base.
On a voice vote the board approved issuing the license, contingent on a site for the store being secured. There were no no votes, but Village President Don McGee announced he abstained from the vote because of a conflict with his son's employment.
In other action at the meeting, the board heard a presentation by Dave Carlson about financing for the proposed upgrade of Baldwin's wastewater treatment plant. (It should be noted somewhere, and here is as good as anywhere, that an upgrade would not be paid for by taxes, but rather by user fees-sanitary sewer charges are billed by the village on a quarterly basis.)
Carlson said the village has a choice in how to pay for the plant expansion, that will cost in the neighborhood of $5,000,000. He said the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources offers money from their "Clean Water Fund," at an interest rate of probably 2.75%.
The federally funded Rural Development Corporation offers an interest rate of 4.375%, but would also offer a $500,000 grant. The Rural Development money also comes with more paperwork attached, which may prove to be expensive.
Carlson said that the best interest rate from the DNR fund would result in about $317,000 in interest payments, and even with the best rate from Rural Development it would require a grant of about $900,000 to lessen its payments to those from the DNR fund. In addition, the Rural Development loan may have a "blended" interest rate because different aged areas of the village would be served, thus further increasing the interest differential.
"My personal feeling is let's go with the Clean Water Fund," said President McGee. "It's a lot simpler" and it's the route the village has chosen in the past.
Village Engineer Mike Stoffel added that the village isn't "skipping free money" by turning down the grant from Rural Development because its costs money to receive it and the interest rate would be higher.
The village board passed a motion to utilize the DNR's Clean Water Fund.
School Board Proposes June 3 Referendum - Volunteers Needed for Public Information Campaign
The Baldwin-Woodville Board of Education continued its discussion regarding the recommendation of the Community Facility Needs Exploratory Committee to build a new intermediate school, which was presented at last month's meeting.
Board President Jeff Campbell gave a brief overview of the situation, explaining the committee was formed after space concerns were identified at district buildings. The committee was comprised of citizens, teachers, Campbell and Supt. Rusty Helland. Professional advice was obtained from HSR Architecture Engineering and Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. The committee started its work last April and recommends a new intermediate school for grades three through five be constructed on property owned by the district.
Steve Apfelbacher of Ehlers & Associated Financial Services advised the board that refundable bonds originally issued in 1991 and mature in 2010, can be changed to be due in 2011. This would reduce the tax spike of an other bond issue caused by delayed state aid payments to the district.
"Have bond rates changed?" asked board member John Hinz.
Apfelbacher said they have come down a bit since last month. "They are headed in the right direction," he said.
"If the board wants to build a new school, we need to set a timetable," prompted Supt. Helland.
A lengthy discussion followed concerning the timing of a referendum.
Board members Campbell and Todd Graf agreed that an April 1 referendum to coincide with the spring election doesn't give the board enough time to inform the public.
Apfelbacher said that state law requires the school board to pass the initial resolution more than 45 days before the election and publish formal notices before the election.
Once the resolution is passed, Brad Simonson of HSR said that in his experience it takes four weeks to present the information to the public.
"I think we should wait until the November general election so we can see what our new enrollment figures are and have spent a summer with $3.00 gas," commented Hinz. "We would get good voter turn out for the general election."
"It will probably take two years to build the school," said board member Mike Bondarenko. "Waiting until November seems too long."
Besides, Bondarenko said, "We have already had a really good committee do the research and we need to act, but April seems too soon."
Helland noted the committee used the past ten years of enrollment data in making its recommendation.
John Huenink of Kraus-Anderson agreed that voter turnout could be good at the November election, but said that if the district waits that long inflation starts to increase the cost of construction.
Board member Deb Rasmussen asked fellow board members if a separate question about financing the swimming pool should be included in the referendum. It appeared the rest of the board agreed that the question needs to be asked.
In the end, the board agreed to set June 3, 2008 for the referendum. No formal motion was listed on the agenda, so none was made.
Supt. Helland recommended setting up two committees: Public Relations and Public Presentation, which would include the professional team. Volunteers are needed for the committees and Helland indicated that people have already shown interest. Helland can be contacted at the district office, 684-3411 for information about volunteering for the committees.
During the open forum, district resident Ken Rundhaug questioned the district's choice of architect and engineering firms. "It seems like there were a lot of problems with the past project," he said.
"We looked at a few firms," said Campbell. "We haven't hired anyone yet." HSR and Kraus-Anderson wouldn't be hired until after a referendum is passed.
Helland agreed that there were problems with the past building project and assured Rundhaug that the district is consulting with two different companies than were used at that time.
The board approved continuing to work with HSR, Kraus-Anderson, and Ehlers.
Tom Kortas of LarsonAllen LLP presented the annual district audit report. The total cost of services for 2007 was $16,462,000 according to his report. Of that, 52.7% was for instruction, 7.7% for pupil and instructional services, 10.5% for operations and maintenance, and 6.0% for administration and business.
General state aid accounts for 51.1% of district revenues and 34.7% comes from property taxes. The balance is from fees and grants.
Kortas noted that the fund balance is $1,782.214, up $218,281 from last year. At 16 percent of the total budget, the figure falls in the recommended range of 15 to 20 percent, he said.
Supt. Helland commented that the district needed to short-term borrow just one time last year for a few days until state aid monies were received. The fund balance helps reduce the need to short-term borrow, he said.
Transportation/Athletic Director Wade Labecki informed the board that the district's new television station is on the air as of last Thursday. "It's message oriented right now," he said.
Included on the station right now are menus, schedules, etc. "Film takes a lot more space," Labecki said. "Baldwin Telecom is already expanding our broadband," to accommodate film he said.
Following a closed session a high school student was expelled through the end of the year for a bomb threat, which occurred before the Christmas break, according to Supt. Helland.
Board President Jeff Campbell gave a brief overview of the situation, explaining the committee was formed after space concerns were identified at district buildings. The committee was comprised of citizens, teachers, Campbell and Supt. Rusty Helland. Professional advice was obtained from HSR Architecture Engineering and Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. The committee started its work last April and recommends a new intermediate school for grades three through five be constructed on property owned by the district.
Steve Apfelbacher of Ehlers & Associated Financial Services advised the board that refundable bonds originally issued in 1991 and mature in 2010, can be changed to be due in 2011. This would reduce the tax spike of an other bond issue caused by delayed state aid payments to the district.
"Have bond rates changed?" asked board member John Hinz.
Apfelbacher said they have come down a bit since last month. "They are headed in the right direction," he said.
"If the board wants to build a new school, we need to set a timetable," prompted Supt. Helland.
A lengthy discussion followed concerning the timing of a referendum.
Board members Campbell and Todd Graf agreed that an April 1 referendum to coincide with the spring election doesn't give the board enough time to inform the public.
Apfelbacher said that state law requires the school board to pass the initial resolution more than 45 days before the election and publish formal notices before the election.
Once the resolution is passed, Brad Simonson of HSR said that in his experience it takes four weeks to present the information to the public.
"I think we should wait until the November general election so we can see what our new enrollment figures are and have spent a summer with $3.00 gas," commented Hinz. "We would get good voter turn out for the general election."
"It will probably take two years to build the school," said board member Mike Bondarenko. "Waiting until November seems too long."
Besides, Bondarenko said, "We have already had a really good committee do the research and we need to act, but April seems too soon."
Helland noted the committee used the past ten years of enrollment data in making its recommendation.
John Huenink of Kraus-Anderson agreed that voter turnout could be good at the November election, but said that if the district waits that long inflation starts to increase the cost of construction.
Board member Deb Rasmussen asked fellow board members if a separate question about financing the swimming pool should be included in the referendum. It appeared the rest of the board agreed that the question needs to be asked.
In the end, the board agreed to set June 3, 2008 for the referendum. No formal motion was listed on the agenda, so none was made.
Supt. Helland recommended setting up two committees: Public Relations and Public Presentation, which would include the professional team. Volunteers are needed for the committees and Helland indicated that people have already shown interest. Helland can be contacted at the district office, 684-3411 for information about volunteering for the committees.
During the open forum, district resident Ken Rundhaug questioned the district's choice of architect and engineering firms. "It seems like there were a lot of problems with the past project," he said.
"We looked at a few firms," said Campbell. "We haven't hired anyone yet." HSR and Kraus-Anderson wouldn't be hired until after a referendum is passed.
Helland agreed that there were problems with the past building project and assured Rundhaug that the district is consulting with two different companies than were used at that time.
The board approved continuing to work with HSR, Kraus-Anderson, and Ehlers.
Tom Kortas of LarsonAllen LLP presented the annual district audit report. The total cost of services for 2007 was $16,462,000 according to his report. Of that, 52.7% was for instruction, 7.7% for pupil and instructional services, 10.5% for operations and maintenance, and 6.0% for administration and business.
General state aid accounts for 51.1% of district revenues and 34.7% comes from property taxes. The balance is from fees and grants.
Kortas noted that the fund balance is $1,782.214, up $218,281 from last year. At 16 percent of the total budget, the figure falls in the recommended range of 15 to 20 percent, he said.
Supt. Helland commented that the district needed to short-term borrow just one time last year for a few days until state aid monies were received. The fund balance helps reduce the need to short-term borrow, he said.
Transportation/Athletic Director Wade Labecki informed the board that the district's new television station is on the air as of last Thursday. "It's message oriented right now," he said.
Included on the station right now are menus, schedules, etc. "Film takes a lot more space," Labecki said. "Baldwin Telecom is already expanding our broadband," to accommodate film he said.
Following a closed session a high school student was expelled through the end of the year for a bomb threat, which occurred before the Christmas break, according to Supt. Helland.
New Barn Will Replace One Destroyed in August Windstorm
The new barn taking shape at the Tony and DeAnn Lind place north of Baldwin will replace one destroyed in August's severe windstorm. The new barn has the shape of a traditional barn but incorporates modern building techniques, said builder Arnie Vander Vorst of Vander Vorst and Sons Construction. The superstructure of the new barn is a study of shapes and symmetry.
A work of art and symmetry is going up north of Baldwin, and they don't build them like that anymore, at least very often.
According to contractor Arnie Vander Vorst of Vander Vorst and Sons Construction of River Falls/Hudson, Tony and DeAnn Lind bought their place north of Baldwin because they love the old barn on the property.
That barn was claimed, like many others, in the August storm that roared through a narrow swath of St. Croix County from New Richmond to the southeast.
So Arnie designed a new barn for the Linds, that uses modern building techniques but will result in an old-fashioned look. "I designed it," said Vander Vorst, who has been a contractor since 1961. "We couldn't use timbers" as was done in old barns, so a floor truss system was used.
"We have all the new building technology in it, but we've got it looking like an old barn," he said. "They never had truss rafters in the old days.
Construction of the new barn started in late November.
Vander Vorst said some of the damaged foundation was replaced with concrete before the stick-frame barn was built over it. He said shingling of the structure would be completed Monday.
The siding of the barn will be with rough-sawn pine in board and batten style by Tony Lind, who is employed as a carpenter, said Vander Vorst.
A work of art and symmetry is going up north of Baldwin, and they don't build them like that anymore, at least very often.
According to contractor Arnie Vander Vorst of Vander Vorst and Sons Construction of River Falls/Hudson, Tony and DeAnn Lind bought their place north of Baldwin because they love the old barn on the property.
That barn was claimed, like many others, in the August storm that roared through a narrow swath of St. Croix County from New Richmond to the southeast.
So Arnie designed a new barn for the Linds, that uses modern building techniques but will result in an old-fashioned look. "I designed it," said Vander Vorst, who has been a contractor since 1961. "We couldn't use timbers" as was done in old barns, so a floor truss system was used.
"We have all the new building technology in it, but we've got it looking like an old barn," he said. "They never had truss rafters in the old days.
Construction of the new barn started in late November.
Vander Vorst said some of the damaged foundation was replaced with concrete before the stick-frame barn was built over it. He said shingling of the structure would be completed Monday.
The siding of the barn will be with rough-sawn pine in board and batten style by Tony Lind, who is employed as a carpenter, said Vander Vorst.
Viking Students Visit Park View
Viking 5th graders went to Park View Nursing Home in Woodville on Thursday, December 20. They prepared a program of holiday songs to share with the residents. Some of the students made cards and delivered them, as well. It was a lot of fun.
Maria Keefer is pictured presenting a resident at Park View Nursing Homewith a homemade card. Jenna Hovde and Olivia Hurd look on.
Wisconsin's 2007 Milk Production Sets 17-year Record Growth; Also Reported in Dairy Exports, Increase in Number of Dairy Cows
At its current pace through mid-December, Wisconsin farmers would produce an estimated 24.1 billion pounds of milk in 2007, the greatest amount since 1990. This reflects a significant private investment by the state's dairy farmers and record milk prices. The record-setting milk production is in addition to dramatic growth in the state's dairy exports, a small but steady increase in the number of dairy cows, and dramatically fewer dairy farms leaving the business.
"Wisconsin's dairy industry and farm families demonstrate why agriculture continues to drive our state economy," Governor Jim Doyle said. "Innovation and continued investment have resulted in unprecedented growth. Growing milk production is allowing our world famous producers to export more cheese and whey, meeting rising demand and keeping our economy
strong."
"No other state in the union can boast the quality, quantity or staying power of Wisconsin's family dairy farms," said Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen. "This is explosive growth in dairy exports unlike anything we've seen. We have room to increase dairy production substantially."
Governor Doyle recently announced his Next Generation Agriculture Plan that includes several initiatives to help dairy plants modernize and expand into growing markets. The plan includes a whey initiative to help plants invest in the growing national and international market for whey, a
dairy plant investment tax credit to help processors modernize and a cheese cooperative tax credit to help cheese cooperatives streamline and modernize. It also includes a nutrient management program to help farmers better manage nutrients and protect water, a grazing lands conservation initiative to help farmers practice more effective land management and a
meat modernization tax credit to help the state's meat processing plants streamline and modernize.
Wisconsin's 14,000 family dairy farms have invested about $1 billion to modernize in the past five years to expand and become more efficient. The Next Generation Agriculture Plan builds on that momentum.
Milk production climbed 3 percent in 2007, driven by strong demand for dairy products, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service on December 18. Milk production per cow has set a record every month in 2007 compared to the same month the year before.
Dairy exports reached record levels for the first nine months in 2007, driven by soaring demand in developing countries in Asia and Latin America. The dollar value of Wisconsin dairy exports increased from $59 million in the first nine months of 2006 to $127 million in the first nine months of 2007 a 114 percent increase. Exports of whey, a by-product of cheese making, increased by 179 percent.
The number of milk cows continued to trend upward for the second year in a row. The average number of dairy cows in the state increased to 1,248,000 in 2007 up by 5,000 head. The number of dairy cows in the state was higher every month in 2007, compared to the same month the year before.
The decrease in dairy farms has slowed. Ten years ago, herds were declining at more than 1,000 a year. The annual decline in the number of herds in 2007 was only 416.
"Wisconsin's dairy industry and farm families demonstrate why agriculture continues to drive our state economy," Governor Jim Doyle said. "Innovation and continued investment have resulted in unprecedented growth. Growing milk production is allowing our world famous producers to export more cheese and whey, meeting rising demand and keeping our economy
strong."
"No other state in the union can boast the quality, quantity or staying power of Wisconsin's family dairy farms," said Agriculture Secretary Rod Nilsestuen. "This is explosive growth in dairy exports unlike anything we've seen. We have room to increase dairy production substantially."
Governor Doyle recently announced his Next Generation Agriculture Plan that includes several initiatives to help dairy plants modernize and expand into growing markets. The plan includes a whey initiative to help plants invest in the growing national and international market for whey, a
dairy plant investment tax credit to help processors modernize and a cheese cooperative tax credit to help cheese cooperatives streamline and modernize. It also includes a nutrient management program to help farmers better manage nutrients and protect water, a grazing lands conservation initiative to help farmers practice more effective land management and a
meat modernization tax credit to help the state's meat processing plants streamline and modernize.
Wisconsin's 14,000 family dairy farms have invested about $1 billion to modernize in the past five years to expand and become more efficient. The Next Generation Agriculture Plan builds on that momentum.
Milk production climbed 3 percent in 2007, driven by strong demand for dairy products, according to figures released by the Wisconsin Agricultural Statistics Service on December 18. Milk production per cow has set a record every month in 2007 compared to the same month the year before.
Dairy exports reached record levels for the first nine months in 2007, driven by soaring demand in developing countries in Asia and Latin America. The dollar value of Wisconsin dairy exports increased from $59 million in the first nine months of 2006 to $127 million in the first nine months of 2007 a 114 percent increase. Exports of whey, a by-product of cheese making, increased by 179 percent.
The number of milk cows continued to trend upward for the second year in a row. The average number of dairy cows in the state increased to 1,248,000 in 2007 up by 5,000 head. The number of dairy cows in the state was higher every month in 2007, compared to the same month the year before.
The decrease in dairy farms has slowed. Ten years ago, herds were declining at more than 1,000 a year. The annual decline in the number of herds in 2007 was only 416.
Tuesday, December 25, 2007
New National Honor Society Members Inducted at Baldwin-Woodville High School
At an induction ceremony held Wednesday, December 19, new members were inducted into the Baldwin-Woodville Chapter of the National Honor Society.
The new members are pictured above. In the front row, left to right, are: Ellen Hawley, Kya Grafenstein, Elisa Folden, William Doornink, David Ring, Alex Buechter, Michelle Johnson, Morgan Jacobson, Kris Eggen and Pella Borh. In the back row, left to right, are: Leanne Terpstra, Rachelle Veenstra, Kayla Wagner, Ian Schoenke, Dan Ramberg, Jennifer Holle, Daniel Peterson and Tyler Klund.
Mike Soergel is 2007 Wildlife Technician of the Year for DNR
Mike Soergel of Baldwin has been recognized as the 2007 Wildlife Technician of the Year at the annual statewide Wildlife meeting of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources held in Madison two weeks ago.According to John Dunn, Area Wildlife Supervisor with the Wisconsin DNR in Eau Claire, "Mike beat out some stiff competition from other Wildlife Technicians from around the state" who had also been nominated by their superiors.
Dunn said Soergel has been the Wildlife Technician in Baldwin for the past 14 years and "over that period has continuously shown a positive 'can do' attitude in his job responsibilities. Specifically, Mike was recognized for his leading role in warm season grass plantings, his top notch prescribed burning program, his aggressive approach towards exotic and invasive plant control, his wetland restoration activities and his ability to partner with other organizations and agencies."
Soergel said after the award that "I was very surprised and honored," to be nominated and to receive it.
Soergel has been Wildlife Technician in Baldwin for 14 years, and before that he was a limited time employee of the DNR for five years in the Janesville area.
During his time as Wildlife Technician Soergel has been involved with Pheasant Forever Chapters, securing land, often with funds from Knowles/Nelson Stewardship Grants which is then donated to the Wisconsin DNR as public land and carrying out prairie plantings.
"I'd like to brag we're the reason there are so many pheasants around," commented Soergel, but the recent mild winters probably has as much to do with it, he said.
In a tribute given to Soergel when his award was presented, it was noted that "following his passion and commitment for his wife and family, is his love of grasslands and the wildlife they produce. He has played a lead role in planning and carrying out prairie plantings on our public
lands. Plus, the two counties in which he works have some of the highest acreages of CRP grass, thanks in part to his efforts with the private lands program to get the grass planted and burned."
In the burning of grassland lands Soergel "has played a leading role improving communications with the local county dispatch and fire departments that minimize unnecessary fire calls. He's worked with local fire departments giving advice on custom-building burn rigs and encouraging them to conduct prescribed burns on private lands. For several years he's been the primary burn boss and has carried out those duties conscientiously, safely and efficiently. The limited time employees claim he's the best burn boss they've ever worked with."
The tribute went on to note that Soergel's love for grasslands "is equaled by his dislike for invasive and exotic plants. His mantra against invasives is 'better living through chemicals.' He has tried various techniques on his own and has also developed good working relationships with other experts to try to fine-tune his invasives strategies. In 2006, he organized an invasives workshop attended by DNR, US Fish and Wildlife, and Pheasants Forever staff from several counties.
Soergel's tribute concluded that "there are strong indicators of a person possessed with the wildlife passion. This person is Mike Soergel, our 2007 Wildlife Technician of the Year. We fully anticipate his continued excellence in our beloved profession. Not only is he a dedicated professional, he's an all-around great guy. Mike's dedication to the resource is unquestioned and he is deserving of this special recognition from the Wildlife Management program and from his colleagues."
Baldwin Set for "Tree City" Status
Dead of Winter. A foot of snow or more on the ground. The shortest days of the year. Temperatures rarely or never above freezing and more likely closer to zero.
No one thinks about trees and the greenery of summer in winter? Well, almost no one.
The Baldwin Village Board, under the prompting of Village Public Works Director John Traxler, has taken action that will hopefully result in Baldwin being designated as a "Tree City USA" under a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources program.
What is an "urban forest"?
According to the DNR, "It is all of the trees and other vegetation in and around a town, village or city. Traditionally it has referred to tree-lined streets, but an urban forest also includes trees in home landscapes, school yards, parks, riverbanks, cemeteries, vacant lots, utility rights-of-way, adjacent woodlands and anywhere else trees can grow in and around a community of any size. [Emphasis in original.] Shrubs, flowers, vines, ground covers, grass, and a variety of wild plants and animals are also part of the urban forest. Streets, sidewalks, buildings, utilities soil, topography and, most importantly, people are an integral part of the urban forest. The urban forest is, in fact, an ecosystem."
According to Traxler, all the groundwork has been laid for Baldwin's designation by the DNR as a "Tree City USA. "We have met the criteria and need to finish filling out the paperwork and send it in," said Traxler. "It's just a formality."
At the Board's December meeting, Trustees agreed to amendments to an earlier draft of a village ordinance titled "Trees and Shrubs" and passed the provision. That ordinance states its purpose as "to establish policy for the control of planting, removal, maintenance and protection of trees and shrubs in or upon all public areas and boulevard areas of the Village to eliminate and guard against dangerous conditions which may result in injury to persons using the streets, alleys, sidewalks or other public areas; to promote an enhance the beauty and general welfare of the Village; to prohibit the undesirable and unsafe planting, removal, treatment and maintenance of trees and shrubs located in public areas; and to guard all trees and shrubs both public and private within the Village against the spread of disease, insects or pests."
The ordinance and designation as a "Tree City" "is just saying that the community is trying to green up and beautify and to take care of trees," said Traxler.
He said another important aspect of designation as a "Tree City" is public awareness involving care for trees, removal and pruning.
The benefits of trees are more than just aesthetic. According to information from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the presence of trees may increase property values, if strategically placed can cut summer air conditioning costs and can intercept storm sewer runoff.
A large portion of the village's new ordinance is devoted to types of trees that will be required in "public places," particularly by developers for a new subdivision. "The ordinance specifies what we expect from developers," said Traxler. He noted that two trees of the same genus are prohibited from being planted next to each other. Among the genus of trees that are allowed for in the ordinance are: maples, oaks, birches, honey locusts, elms and miscellaneous trees of other genus.
One aspect of the "Tree City" designation is an inventory of existing trees that are considered "public", or in parks or along a boulevard. The count reached 1,522 public trees in the village.
Traxler said a Tree Board has been created consisting of himself, Trustee Claire Stein, Village Engineer Mike Stoffel and Chris Ruch a certified arborist with St. Croix Tree Service. Traxler said there is an opportunity for volunteers to serve on the tree board in several capacities and persons interested in serving can contact him at 684-2535.
The Tree Board will also plan for tree removal of trees that are hazardous. Many of the silver maples planted on boulevards are in that category, said Traxler, and removal in the winter is sometimes best because it results in the least amount of damage to lawns and boulevards.
No one thinks about trees and the greenery of summer in winter? Well, almost no one.
The Baldwin Village Board, under the prompting of Village Public Works Director John Traxler, has taken action that will hopefully result in Baldwin being designated as a "Tree City USA" under a Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources program.
What is an "urban forest"?
According to the DNR, "It is all of the trees and other vegetation in and around a town, village or city. Traditionally it has referred to tree-lined streets, but an urban forest also includes trees in home landscapes, school yards, parks, riverbanks, cemeteries, vacant lots, utility rights-of-way, adjacent woodlands and anywhere else trees can grow in and around a community of any size. [Emphasis in original.] Shrubs, flowers, vines, ground covers, grass, and a variety of wild plants and animals are also part of the urban forest. Streets, sidewalks, buildings, utilities soil, topography and, most importantly, people are an integral part of the urban forest. The urban forest is, in fact, an ecosystem."
According to Traxler, all the groundwork has been laid for Baldwin's designation by the DNR as a "Tree City USA. "We have met the criteria and need to finish filling out the paperwork and send it in," said Traxler. "It's just a formality."
At the Board's December meeting, Trustees agreed to amendments to an earlier draft of a village ordinance titled "Trees and Shrubs" and passed the provision. That ordinance states its purpose as "to establish policy for the control of planting, removal, maintenance and protection of trees and shrubs in or upon all public areas and boulevard areas of the Village to eliminate and guard against dangerous conditions which may result in injury to persons using the streets, alleys, sidewalks or other public areas; to promote an enhance the beauty and general welfare of the Village; to prohibit the undesirable and unsafe planting, removal, treatment and maintenance of trees and shrubs located in public areas; and to guard all trees and shrubs both public and private within the Village against the spread of disease, insects or pests."
The ordinance and designation as a "Tree City" "is just saying that the community is trying to green up and beautify and to take care of trees," said Traxler.
He said another important aspect of designation as a "Tree City" is public awareness involving care for trees, removal and pruning.
The benefits of trees are more than just aesthetic. According to information from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, the presence of trees may increase property values, if strategically placed can cut summer air conditioning costs and can intercept storm sewer runoff.
A large portion of the village's new ordinance is devoted to types of trees that will be required in "public places," particularly by developers for a new subdivision. "The ordinance specifies what we expect from developers," said Traxler. He noted that two trees of the same genus are prohibited from being planted next to each other. Among the genus of trees that are allowed for in the ordinance are: maples, oaks, birches, honey locusts, elms and miscellaneous trees of other genus.
One aspect of the "Tree City" designation is an inventory of existing trees that are considered "public", or in parks or along a boulevard. The count reached 1,522 public trees in the village.
Traxler said a Tree Board has been created consisting of himself, Trustee Claire Stein, Village Engineer Mike Stoffel and Chris Ruch a certified arborist with St. Croix Tree Service. Traxler said there is an opportunity for volunteers to serve on the tree board in several capacities and persons interested in serving can contact him at 684-2535.
The Tree Board will also plan for tree removal of trees that are hazardous. Many of the silver maples planted on boulevards are in that category, said Traxler, and removal in the winter is sometimes best because it results in the least amount of damage to lawns and boulevards.
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Bell Ringers Raising Money for Salvation Army
Baldwin Medical Center employees Carol Rens, left, and Ruth Fick served as bell ringers for the Salvation Army Friday afternoon at Nilssen's SuperValu.
Gun Club Ordered Closed
May be reopened if renovated and supervision and operation improve
A St. Croix County Judge has determined that "The use of firearms at the [Central St. Croix Rod and] Gun Club[, Inc.] Property have repeatedly trespassed on the property of the individual plaintiffs" and has "unreasonably interfered with the individual Plaintiffs' use and enjoyment
of their property."
Moreover, the order by Judge Eric Lundell states that "the continued use of firearms at the Gun Club Property as currently configured and operated is sufficiently probable, indeed likely, to result in future trespass and nuisance causing Plaintiffs irreparable harm."
Therefore, Judge Lundell ordered "All use of firearms at the Gun Club Property is prohibited until further Order of this Court," and added conditions to insure that Gun Club members are aware of the order.
The Gun Club is located in the Town of Eau Galle along USH 63 about one-half mile south of CTH N.
According to Barry Serier, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Gun Club, he testified about numerous bullets and shot that was leaving the Gun Club property. He said one of his great uncles had bullets in the walls of his house. Another great uncle also had bullets in outbuildings and was chased off his own property by trespassers. He said trespassers on his land chased his kids off his land.
The Gun Club "was shut down by the court," said Serier. "It can be reopened if they can prove that it can be done safely to the court and plaintiff's satisfaction. We knew there would be a lot of talk and we don't want to be labeled as anti-gun people, but we do want to use our property as we see fit-without fear of being hit by projectiles from a neighboring facility.
"It's just disheartening for us to have to go through this, but we had to do it to protect our families," said Serier.
At the court hearing Serier said he brought many recovered bullets from his field northeast of the Gun Club.
Serier said the lawsuit filed by himself and others, including the organization Citizens for a Safe and Peaceful Eau Galle and Rush River Township, Inc., was their last resort. They had been to the County Zoning Department, which had issued a permit for a trap range at the site. "I really think they had good intentions," said Serier about the individuals who wanted the trap range. "But there were no restrictions placed on them." He added that they next went to the Town Board and the Sheriff's Department because of trespassers, night time shooting and unsupervised shooting, but received no satisfaction. "So we had exhausted our options.
"People started to converse and found out they were not the only ones: neighbors had bullets in their buildings, bullets whistling by them," said Pastor John Hanson who lives about three-quarters of a mile from the range. "Individuals were told to restrict their actions on their own property."
In total, about 12 people in the area had near-misses from direct bullet fire, said Serier, six properties were struck by projectiles, several homesites, and one home. A quick discovery survey by the Citizens found over six hundred projectiles that had left the Range.
Serier said there was alcohol used at the site, and on one occasion he was there, garbage cans were overflowing with garbage and beer cans. In one instance there was a person with an automatic weapon spraying bullets at a hillside.
Pastor Hanson said Citizens for a Safe and Peaceful Eau Galle and Rush River Township, Inc. was formed by more than a dozen neighbors of the shooting range, most of whom are close neighbors. He said there are also many other supporters of the group's efforts, although they are not members.
"I got involved when an elderly lady called one day and reported that there was a lot of activity going on and I feel unsafe," said Pastor Hanson. "Another part of that was due to bullet strikes at their homes."
Among the efforts the plaintiffs in the lawsuit took was to hire a ballistics expert and arrange for an on-site visit.
The Gun Club is on an 11.54 acre parcel, said Serier, which when land is subtracted for the driveway and right-of-way gives about 10 acres and about four acres are actually used for shooting. The lineal dimensions, as per the gun club's own testifying expert, are too short to contain their shotfall zones and safety zones. This expert stated under oath that this physical limitation is a safety issue.
Pastor Hanson explained that the berm is not properly constructed and allows for bullets to skip out of the range since there is no overhead baffling in addition to the berm.
In addition to ordering that all use of firearms at the Gun Club property is prohibited, Judge Lundell said signs shall be posted at the property stating the prohibition, that written notice will be provided to all Gun Club members and that the lock be changed on the gate.
The Court's order provides that the Gun Club may move to lift the injunction "by presenting a plan to physically renovate the Gun Club property and make all other necessary changes, including changes to the operation and supervision of the Gun Club property, to ensure that all shot, bullets, and other projectiles are maintained on the Gun Club property." The plan, wrote Judge Lundell, must include: "(1) drawings by a professional engineer or its equivalent with firearms range design experience, (2) cost estimates, by range; and (3) three-dimensional (CAD) renderings of the plans."
The plans must include "(1) physical design, including perimeter control; and (2) operational controls, including on-site supervision."
"Gun Club shall not be permitted to resume use of firearms until the Court approves the plan and the physical renovations are complete and the Court inspects and verifies that the plan is fully implemented."
The order by Judge Lundell also contains a schedule for presenting the Gun Club's plans to plaintiffs and to the Court, and a schedule for evidentiary hearings "regarding whether the Gun Club's plan ensures that all shot, bullets, and other projectiles are maintained on the Gun Club
property.
The order says that if the Gun Club does not present a plan to the Court and plaintiffs by April 15, 2008 or does not prevail at the evidentiary hearing, "this injunction shall become permanent."
The Gun Club was ordered to provide the plaintiffs' attorney with proof of insurance.
The "plaintiffs are entitled to an award of statutory costs and disbursement," the order states. Serier estimates that amount may be in the range of $20,000, which is but a small fraction of the costs that have been incurred to bring the lawsuit, he said.
A St. Croix County Judge has determined that "The use of firearms at the [Central St. Croix Rod and] Gun Club[, Inc.] Property have repeatedly trespassed on the property of the individual plaintiffs" and has "unreasonably interfered with the individual Plaintiffs' use and enjoyment
of their property."
Moreover, the order by Judge Eric Lundell states that "the continued use of firearms at the Gun Club Property as currently configured and operated is sufficiently probable, indeed likely, to result in future trespass and nuisance causing Plaintiffs irreparable harm."
Therefore, Judge Lundell ordered "All use of firearms at the Gun Club Property is prohibited until further Order of this Court," and added conditions to insure that Gun Club members are aware of the order.
The Gun Club is located in the Town of Eau Galle along USH 63 about one-half mile south of CTH N.
According to Barry Serier, one of the plaintiffs in the lawsuit against the Gun Club, he testified about numerous bullets and shot that was leaving the Gun Club property. He said one of his great uncles had bullets in the walls of his house. Another great uncle also had bullets in outbuildings and was chased off his own property by trespassers. He said trespassers on his land chased his kids off his land.
The Gun Club "was shut down by the court," said Serier. "It can be reopened if they can prove that it can be done safely to the court and plaintiff's satisfaction. We knew there would be a lot of talk and we don't want to be labeled as anti-gun people, but we do want to use our property as we see fit-without fear of being hit by projectiles from a neighboring facility.
"It's just disheartening for us to have to go through this, but we had to do it to protect our families," said Serier.
At the court hearing Serier said he brought many recovered bullets from his field northeast of the Gun Club.
Serier said the lawsuit filed by himself and others, including the organization Citizens for a Safe and Peaceful Eau Galle and Rush River Township, Inc., was their last resort. They had been to the County Zoning Department, which had issued a permit for a trap range at the site. "I really think they had good intentions," said Serier about the individuals who wanted the trap range. "But there were no restrictions placed on them." He added that they next went to the Town Board and the Sheriff's Department because of trespassers, night time shooting and unsupervised shooting, but received no satisfaction. "So we had exhausted our options.
"People started to converse and found out they were not the only ones: neighbors had bullets in their buildings, bullets whistling by them," said Pastor John Hanson who lives about three-quarters of a mile from the range. "Individuals were told to restrict their actions on their own property."
In total, about 12 people in the area had near-misses from direct bullet fire, said Serier, six properties were struck by projectiles, several homesites, and one home. A quick discovery survey by the Citizens found over six hundred projectiles that had left the Range.
Serier said there was alcohol used at the site, and on one occasion he was there, garbage cans were overflowing with garbage and beer cans. In one instance there was a person with an automatic weapon spraying bullets at a hillside.
Pastor Hanson said Citizens for a Safe and Peaceful Eau Galle and Rush River Township, Inc. was formed by more than a dozen neighbors of the shooting range, most of whom are close neighbors. He said there are also many other supporters of the group's efforts, although they are not members.
"I got involved when an elderly lady called one day and reported that there was a lot of activity going on and I feel unsafe," said Pastor Hanson. "Another part of that was due to bullet strikes at their homes."
Among the efforts the plaintiffs in the lawsuit took was to hire a ballistics expert and arrange for an on-site visit.
The Gun Club is on an 11.54 acre parcel, said Serier, which when land is subtracted for the driveway and right-of-way gives about 10 acres and about four acres are actually used for shooting. The lineal dimensions, as per the gun club's own testifying expert, are too short to contain their shotfall zones and safety zones. This expert stated under oath that this physical limitation is a safety issue.
Pastor Hanson explained that the berm is not properly constructed and allows for bullets to skip out of the range since there is no overhead baffling in addition to the berm.
In addition to ordering that all use of firearms at the Gun Club property is prohibited, Judge Lundell said signs shall be posted at the property stating the prohibition, that written notice will be provided to all Gun Club members and that the lock be changed on the gate.
The Court's order provides that the Gun Club may move to lift the injunction "by presenting a plan to physically renovate the Gun Club property and make all other necessary changes, including changes to the operation and supervision of the Gun Club property, to ensure that all shot, bullets, and other projectiles are maintained on the Gun Club property." The plan, wrote Judge Lundell, must include: "(1) drawings by a professional engineer or its equivalent with firearms range design experience, (2) cost estimates, by range; and (3) three-dimensional (CAD) renderings of the plans."
The plans must include "(1) physical design, including perimeter control; and (2) operational controls, including on-site supervision."
"Gun Club shall not be permitted to resume use of firearms until the Court approves the plan and the physical renovations are complete and the Court inspects and verifies that the plan is fully implemented."
The order by Judge Lundell also contains a schedule for presenting the Gun Club's plans to plaintiffs and to the Court, and a schedule for evidentiary hearings "regarding whether the Gun Club's plan ensures that all shot, bullets, and other projectiles are maintained on the Gun Club
property.
The order says that if the Gun Club does not present a plan to the Court and plaintiffs by April 15, 2008 or does not prevail at the evidentiary hearing, "this injunction shall become permanent."
The Gun Club was ordered to provide the plaintiffs' attorney with proof of insurance.
The "plaintiffs are entitled to an award of statutory costs and disbursement," the order states. Serier estimates that amount may be in the range of $20,000, which is but a small fraction of the costs that have been incurred to bring the lawsuit, he said.
BW-School Board Reviews Building Recommendation
The Baldwin-Woodville School Board spent the lion's share of Monday night's meeting discussing last month's recommendation from the Community Facility Needs Exploratory Committee. In November the committee presented the recommendation that an intermediate school for grades three through five be built to alleviate crowding at the elementary and middle schools.
The committee was formed by the board last April with community members who responded to advertising for volunteers. Also serving on the committee are Superintendent Rusty Helland, school board member Jeff Campbell and school employees. John Huenink, construction manager from Kraus-Anderson, and architect Brad Simonson of HSR provided technical assistance to the committee.
Committee member Jane Erickson commented that the group represents a wide range of ages and occupations.
Over the past eight months, the committee met ten times to research, analyze data and brainstorm. In the end, their recommendation is that an intermediate school for grades three through five with six sections at each level should be built. The recommended location for the 90,000 square foot building is north of Greenfield Elementary, just west of the parking lot that currently serves the High School. Estimated price tagis $16,494,000 according to preliminary cost figures provided by Kraus-Anderson.
Steve Apfelbacher of Ehlers and Associates explained the financial impact of the project using the preliminary figure of $16.495 million construction cost, with that debt issued over 20 years. The financing assumptions include bonds being issued in June of 2008 following an April referendum.
Apfelbacher said the district's present debt is $22,061,837. State Aid to the district for debt service is at 69.65 percent annually. As the district's debt increases, the State Aid formula changes and Apfelbacher estimated the new debt would be reimbursed at 63.8 percent.
Current debt capacity of the district is $45,524,792, which is the difference between the $67,586,629 debt limit less the $22,061,837 outstanding, according to Apfelbacher. Board members Tom Schumacher and John Hinz both cautioned against borrowing to the upper debt limit.
The projected interest rate for the project is 4.25 percent said Apfelbacher. That translates into $121.76 yearly tax increase on a $200,000 home, $182.64 for a $300,000 home and $243.51 for a $400,000 home.
"This last year, our growth didn't increase that much," commented Hinz, "What happens if it stays flat?"
If there is no growth in property values the mill rate would go up, said Apfelbacher. He explained that in doing the cost analysis for the district he used a conservative growth estimate of 75 percent of the average of the last five year's growth.
Apfelbacher said the two most important factors for the district to consider from a financial standpoint are how fast is the equalized valuation of the district growing and how much will the state contribute. Both of these can only be estimated.
John Huenink of Kraus-Anderson Construction Company explained the construction manager at risk services, which Kraus-Anderson could provide for the district. Construction manager at risk services assume all responsibility for pre-construction and construction phases of the project.
The district assumes no risk, any problems are the responsibility of the CM, he said.
In addition, the CM at risk charges a fixed fee which is negotiated up front based on estimated cost of the work. There is no mark up for change orders, said Huenink. Checks and balances between the architect and construction manager are built into the process and any savings revert 100 percent to the district, he said.
Architect Brad Simonson explained that the proposed building would add one classroom per grade level. The district has been increasing by an average of 24 students per year according to enrollment figures.
"We're not growing like we were, who knows how far out we can predict," said Hinz. "You can over-build."
"The committee talked about projected enrollment a lot," said Simonson. "At first the recommendation was for seven sections for each grade level, but they didn't want to over-build."
A few board members said the community had been misled in the last building project which assured that Viking Middle School could be added onto in the future.
Simonson said classrooms could be added on at Viking to the various wings and the core areas could handle the added students, but an additional entire grade level wouldn't fit. And that doesn't alleviate the problems at Greenfield Elementary. Classrooms could be added at Viking and the proposed new school in the future as needed Simonson said.
"What happens to the classrooms at Greenfield (that would be vacated by the move of third and fourth grades)," asked board member Dustin Klanderman.
Many programs that have been crowded would now have adequate space including special ed, library and computers, said Simonson. There would also be classrooms for additional grade level
sections.
Board member Todd Graf asked what would happen to the new garage next to Greenfield. Simonson said there are several options of where to move the building. He explained that the proposed building is planned for that spot due to the location of the bus loop and main entrance of Greenfield.
Board member Deb Rasmussen noted that the committee was very concerned with the leaking roofs in the district and thought these should be fixed before any new building begins.
Huenink said it's actually the exterior walls that are leaking in places where the flashing was improperly installed. According to Maintenance Supervisor Mike Timm, the district plans to test two sealant products in the spring to see which work or not.
"We're looking at $50,000 at the low end to $350,000 at the high end to replace the flashing," said Supt. Rusty Helland. "We all agree this needs to be fixed as soon as possible."
Rasmussen also asked if the committee addressed the swimming pool issue.
Simonson and Huenink said they estimated $4 million for an indoor pool and $10,000 to $12,000 annual operating costs. They said the committee decided that if the board wants to include the pool on the referendum, it should be a separate question from the proposed school building question.
District resident Ken Rundhaug asked what new administrative staff would be needed for a new building and if operating costs were included or would another referendum question be needed for that.
Simonson said the committee noted there would be additional maintenance staff, serving kitchen staff, as well as teachers. He said there would be a savings on busing costs. Operating costs are not figured into the preliminary building cost estimates, he said.
"These are all good questions," commented Huenink. "Your committee discussed them at length over a period of months and we'll review them with the board if you like."
"I don't think we need to re-invent the wheel," commented board member Mike Bondarenko as he made a motion to pursue the recommendation with further discussion at the next regular board meeting scheduled for Jan. 14.
Motion carried.
The committee was formed by the board last April with community members who responded to advertising for volunteers. Also serving on the committee are Superintendent Rusty Helland, school board member Jeff Campbell and school employees. John Huenink, construction manager from Kraus-Anderson, and architect Brad Simonson of HSR provided technical assistance to the committee.
Committee member Jane Erickson commented that the group represents a wide range of ages and occupations.
Over the past eight months, the committee met ten times to research, analyze data and brainstorm. In the end, their recommendation is that an intermediate school for grades three through five with six sections at each level should be built. The recommended location for the 90,000 square foot building is north of Greenfield Elementary, just west of the parking lot that currently serves the High School. Estimated price tagis $16,494,000 according to preliminary cost figures provided by Kraus-Anderson.
Steve Apfelbacher of Ehlers and Associates explained the financial impact of the project using the preliminary figure of $16.495 million construction cost, with that debt issued over 20 years. The financing assumptions include bonds being issued in June of 2008 following an April referendum.
Apfelbacher said the district's present debt is $22,061,837. State Aid to the district for debt service is at 69.65 percent annually. As the district's debt increases, the State Aid formula changes and Apfelbacher estimated the new debt would be reimbursed at 63.8 percent.
Current debt capacity of the district is $45,524,792, which is the difference between the $67,586,629 debt limit less the $22,061,837 outstanding, according to Apfelbacher. Board members Tom Schumacher and John Hinz both cautioned against borrowing to the upper debt limit.
The projected interest rate for the project is 4.25 percent said Apfelbacher. That translates into $121.76 yearly tax increase on a $200,000 home, $182.64 for a $300,000 home and $243.51 for a $400,000 home.
"This last year, our growth didn't increase that much," commented Hinz, "What happens if it stays flat?"
If there is no growth in property values the mill rate would go up, said Apfelbacher. He explained that in doing the cost analysis for the district he used a conservative growth estimate of 75 percent of the average of the last five year's growth.
Apfelbacher said the two most important factors for the district to consider from a financial standpoint are how fast is the equalized valuation of the district growing and how much will the state contribute. Both of these can only be estimated.
John Huenink of Kraus-Anderson Construction Company explained the construction manager at risk services, which Kraus-Anderson could provide for the district. Construction manager at risk services assume all responsibility for pre-construction and construction phases of the project.
The district assumes no risk, any problems are the responsibility of the CM, he said.
In addition, the CM at risk charges a fixed fee which is negotiated up front based on estimated cost of the work. There is no mark up for change orders, said Huenink. Checks and balances between the architect and construction manager are built into the process and any savings revert 100 percent to the district, he said.
Architect Brad Simonson explained that the proposed building would add one classroom per grade level. The district has been increasing by an average of 24 students per year according to enrollment figures.
"We're not growing like we were, who knows how far out we can predict," said Hinz. "You can over-build."
"The committee talked about projected enrollment a lot," said Simonson. "At first the recommendation was for seven sections for each grade level, but they didn't want to over-build."
A few board members said the community had been misled in the last building project which assured that Viking Middle School could be added onto in the future.
Simonson said classrooms could be added on at Viking to the various wings and the core areas could handle the added students, but an additional entire grade level wouldn't fit. And that doesn't alleviate the problems at Greenfield Elementary. Classrooms could be added at Viking and the proposed new school in the future as needed Simonson said.
"What happens to the classrooms at Greenfield (that would be vacated by the move of third and fourth grades)," asked board member Dustin Klanderman.
Many programs that have been crowded would now have adequate space including special ed, library and computers, said Simonson. There would also be classrooms for additional grade level
sections.
Board member Todd Graf asked what would happen to the new garage next to Greenfield. Simonson said there are several options of where to move the building. He explained that the proposed building is planned for that spot due to the location of the bus loop and main entrance of Greenfield.
Board member Deb Rasmussen noted that the committee was very concerned with the leaking roofs in the district and thought these should be fixed before any new building begins.
Huenink said it's actually the exterior walls that are leaking in places where the flashing was improperly installed. According to Maintenance Supervisor Mike Timm, the district plans to test two sealant products in the spring to see which work or not.
"We're looking at $50,000 at the low end to $350,000 at the high end to replace the flashing," said Supt. Rusty Helland. "We all agree this needs to be fixed as soon as possible."
Rasmussen also asked if the committee addressed the swimming pool issue.
Simonson and Huenink said they estimated $4 million for an indoor pool and $10,000 to $12,000 annual operating costs. They said the committee decided that if the board wants to include the pool on the referendum, it should be a separate question from the proposed school building question.
District resident Ken Rundhaug asked what new administrative staff would be needed for a new building and if operating costs were included or would another referendum question be needed for that.
Simonson said the committee noted there would be additional maintenance staff, serving kitchen staff, as well as teachers. He said there would be a savings on busing costs. Operating costs are not figured into the preliminary building cost estimates, he said.
"These are all good questions," commented Huenink. "Your committee discussed them at length over a period of months and we'll review them with the board if you like."
"I don't think we need to re-invent the wheel," commented board member Mike Bondarenko as he made a motion to pursue the recommendation with further discussion at the next regular board meeting scheduled for Jan. 14.
Motion carried.
Village Applies for Grant for New Treatment Plant
After a presentation by Paul Gont of SEH Engineering, about a proposed upgrade to the village's wastewater treatment plant, the Baldwin Village Board agreed to apply for a grant from the state's clean water fund to help pay for it and to proceed with preparing plans and specifications
for the new treatment plant.
The action came at the board's regular monthly meeting last Wednesday.
Gont told board members that the estimate for construction of the new plant is about $4,500,000, plus engineering fees. Of that amount, the village has about $1,100,000 in funds from user fees and impact fees. The projected impact of the new plant on existing homeowners is about a 30% increase, said Gont.
Among the points discussed by Gont were the need for a generator at the plant; and the possibility of a storage garage being constructed as part of the project.
Gont said the process to prepare the specifications and plans for the plant takes about six months, or approximately to June of 2008.
Following that is an approximately two month approval process and then the Village Board will have to make a decision on whether to go ahead with building the project.
Board members questioned Gont on the amount of engineering fees, which are just short of a million dollars. He noted that as a percentage of the project it is about normal. Trustee Duane Russett said the amount seemed extremely high but Village President Don McGee said the percentage seemed the same as the last treatment plant project.
The motion to proceed with preparing the plans and specifications carried on a voice vote with no one voting no.
In other business at the meeting:
-The board voted for final acceptance of the fourth addition to Berkseth Heights and to reduce the developer's letter of credit.
-With the upgrade of USH 63 through Baldwin, the Department of Transportation is taking over the outside lanes of the highway through the village and they will be used as travel lanes. At present they are parking lanes through most of the village. In preparation for that action, the
board voted to end parking on USH 63 in the village effective April 1.
Village Engineer Mike Stoffel noted that the bid to do the work has been awarded to Monarchfor $3,800,000 but the start date has not been firmly set.
-Stoffel said the village's newly formed Urban Forest Board has met and made some changes in a proposed ordinance, mainly increasing the species acceptable for planting in the village. The board approved the ordinance.
-Two candidates for the newly created fourth judicial branch for St. Croix County spoke to board members. They were: Howard Cameron and Mark Gherty.
for the new treatment plant.
The action came at the board's regular monthly meeting last Wednesday.
Gont told board members that the estimate for construction of the new plant is about $4,500,000, plus engineering fees. Of that amount, the village has about $1,100,000 in funds from user fees and impact fees. The projected impact of the new plant on existing homeowners is about a 30% increase, said Gont.
Among the points discussed by Gont were the need for a generator at the plant; and the possibility of a storage garage being constructed as part of the project.
Gont said the process to prepare the specifications and plans for the plant takes about six months, or approximately to June of 2008.
Following that is an approximately two month approval process and then the Village Board will have to make a decision on whether to go ahead with building the project.
Board members questioned Gont on the amount of engineering fees, which are just short of a million dollars. He noted that as a percentage of the project it is about normal. Trustee Duane Russett said the amount seemed extremely high but Village President Don McGee said the percentage seemed the same as the last treatment plant project.
The motion to proceed with preparing the plans and specifications carried on a voice vote with no one voting no.
In other business at the meeting:
-The board voted for final acceptance of the fourth addition to Berkseth Heights and to reduce the developer's letter of credit.
-With the upgrade of USH 63 through Baldwin, the Department of Transportation is taking over the outside lanes of the highway through the village and they will be used as travel lanes. At present they are parking lanes through most of the village. In preparation for that action, the
board voted to end parking on USH 63 in the village effective April 1.
Village Engineer Mike Stoffel noted that the bid to do the work has been awarded to Monarchfor $3,800,000 but the start date has not been firmly set.
-Stoffel said the village's newly formed Urban Forest Board has met and made some changes in a proposed ordinance, mainly increasing the species acceptable for planting in the village. The board approved the ordinance.
-Two candidates for the newly created fourth judicial branch for St. Croix County spoke to board members. They were: Howard Cameron and Mark Gherty.
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