Mark Gherty is winner of Blakeman Award

See the attached photo gallery for more award winners.

• Gherty wins Blakeman Award
• CC Banquet
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City adopts state quota on liquor licenses

Three new licenses will be available following the publication of a notice in the Feb. 9 Star-Observer. Two will be added because of the change in the quota. Another is available because Rancho Chico has closed its doors.

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HPD police dog nabs suspect

A Woodville man is facing a theft charge after being apprehended by Brisko, the Hudson Police Department’s canine officer early Saturday morning.

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New director has long YMCA history

Along with a fresh new sign, the YMCA in Hudson has a new executive director. Bryan Soper took over the leadership of the Y this month. And while he may be new to the Hudson area, he has been with the YMCA for 25 years.

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• New Hudson YMCA director Bryan Soper

Congressman Sean Duffy visits Hudson

Congressman Sean Duffy stopped by the Republican Party campaign office in Hudson Thursday afternoon to introduce himself to supporters.

• Congressman Sean Duffy
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Former Hudson musician and businessman dies

Former Hudson rock musician and businessman Jeffrey T. Johnson has died at the age of 48. Johnson died Sunday at the Mayo Clinic hospital in Eau Claire.

• Jeffrey Johnson, 48
• Jeffrey Johnson, 48

Traffic fatalities more than double in St. Croix County

Traffic deaths on St. Croix County roadway took a sharp rise in 2011 over one of the lowest number of fatalities in recent history. Records at the sheriff’s department show 13 deaths in the county in 2011 compared with just six in 2010.

• St. Croix County fatal accident totals since 1960
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Locals help deliver Walker recall petitions to Madison

Town of Troy resident Nan Lambert and Barb Greub of River Falls were chosen to represent St. Croix and Pierce counties, respectively, when the call went out for a person from every Wisconsin county to help hand-deliver 3,000 pounds of petitions seeking the recall of Gov. Scott Walker and other state-level officials.

• Barb Greub, Pierce County, totes a box of petitions
• Nan Lambert, St. Croix County, wears warm winter clothing and a big smile
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SART begins second decade of service

St. Croix Valley SART (Sexual Assault Response Team) is a non-profit organization that provides free comprehensive services to victims of sexual assault. SART’s forensic nurse examiners and volunteer advocates assist and support victims from their initial examination following an assault through the prosecution of the suspect.

Hudson’s Berg among 2012 Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business

Governor Scott Walker, Lt. Governor Rebecca Kleefisch and the Wisconsin Women’s Council announced the recipients of the 2012 Governor’s Trailblazer Awards for Women in Business, recognizing women pioneers in the business community.

• Lou Anne Berg
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City Council asked to rezone dog track land

An application from the Hudson School District to rezone the former St. Croix Meadows dog track property was referred to the Hudson Plan Commission by the City Council on Monday night.

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One Block Run raises over $6,000

Dick’s Bar & Grill hosted the 26th annual One Block Fun Run for United Cerebral Palsy of Western Wisconsin Saturday, Jan. 21. Over 200 people participated in this year’s event.

• One Block Run is led by Paul Kremer and Snowflake, the llama
• From left, volunteers Ella Smith, Alexis Hauschildt and Jake Hauschildt
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Ruling comes in ‘Avanti’ trademark legal fight

Use of the name “Avanti” has been involved in a local legal battle for nearly a year. In late December the U.S. District Court ruled the name is owned by the original people who brought it to Hudson in the late 1980s – a group headed by Nancy Lawton-Shirley.

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Phillips appears in felony charge

A man who allegedly led Minnesota and Wisconsin sheriff’s deputies on a chase in a reported stolen car incident Jan. 12 appeared in St. Croix County Circuit Court Friday on a felony charge.

• Loren H. Phillips, Nov. 2011

Baldwin-Woodville school district accused of open meeting law violations

Citizens for Responsible Government Network and the Wisconsin Institute for Law & Liberty announced Monday that WILL has filed a formal complaint with the St. Croix County District Attorney and the Wisconsin Attorney General against the members of the Baldwin-Woodville Area School District Board of Education.

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Hot Air Affair features balloons on Feb. 3-5

It’s all about the balloons! And a new balloon is coming to Hudson for the first time for the 23rd annual Hudson Hot Air Affair.

• The Airganic Garden balloon
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Walker touts job-creation and budget-balancing efforts

Wisconsin News
With non-stop protest chants in the background, Gov. Scott Walker said in his State of the State address Wednesday night that Wisconsin is on the right track for an economic turnaround.

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Opinion: Bridge is example of political parties working together

If you pay attention to the news from Washington, D.C., you might believe that Republicans and Democrats can’t agree on anything. But I went to Washington willing to work with anyone who will acknowledge a problem and help develop real solutions.

• Ron Johnson, U.S. Wisconsin Senator (R-Oshkosh)
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Our View: Wisconsin is again number 1

We’re number one! We’re number one! Unfortunately we’re not talking about the Wisconsin Badgers football team or the Green Bay Packers. The sad truth is this: Of all 50 states, Wisconsin is number one in binge drinking.

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Randy’s Ramblings: Decent pay and a good nursing home are worth preserving

There they go again, to adapt a line from a former president. Three years after citizens voted 27,219 to 14,648 for St. Croix County to continue to operate a nursing home, the county board has set another referendum on the issue.

• Randy Hanson
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Alliant Energy and Resch centers make pitches for state tournaments

Wisconsin Sports
The Wisconsin Interscholastic Athletic Association's Board of Control heard proposals Wednesday from new places interested in hosting the boys and girls state high school basketball tournaments.

Brewers slugger Prince Fielder leaves for Detroit

Wisconsin Sports
The Milwaukee Brewers lost their most powerful hitter Tuesday, when free agent Prince Fielder agreed to a nine-year contract with the Detroit Tigers worth a reported $214 million.