Articles

Stressed pines in area concern property owners, DNR experts

DNR plant and pest disease specialist Todd Lanigan’s preliminary finding is that it may be due to the drought conditions in the past few years.

• Stressed pines

Loaner life jackets at Lakefront Park in Hudson, courtesy of DNR grant

Members of the Double Good 4-H club who worked on the life jacket station include, back from left, Josiah Berg, Logan Berg, Jason Kennett, Tyler Kennett, Seth Loberg, Grady McAbee, Danile Loberg, Havilah Berg, Lisha Berg, Josie Schoeller; front, Faylene Troemner, Rachel Berg, Emily Kennett, Abby Loberg, Trisha Berg, Molly Loberg. Submitted photo

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• Tim Kuhfus of the Water Patrol

County board postpones SCI resolution; will revisit the measure in August

A resolution to privatize St. Croix Industries stalled on the floor and was postponed until August following a wave of citizen response at the county board of supervisors meeting Tuesday night.

Construction of new St. Croix County 911 center set for summer

The $1.5 million construction and expansion phase of the new center will increase the total to 1,104 square feet and take over the adjoining space now used as a community room on the ground floor of the building.

• Casey Swetlik

Neil Paulson chose technology over farming

A couple of hard winters on the family dairy farm and Neil Paulson decided to pursue another career. The epiphany came at a particularly severe moment. “I was running a manure spreader and freezing and I thought there has to be a better way than this.”

• Neil Paulson

Sheriff's investigator balances the roles of mother and cop

Investigator Brandie Hart of the St. Croix County Sheriff’s Department has been able to balance the two obligations since the birth of her son five and one-half years ago and is about to add another number to the equation.

• Brandie Hart

Friday -- Schaffhausen’s mental state scrutinized

The defense called experts and a former co-worker from his construction job in North Dakota to testify about Aaron Schaffhausen’s battle with depression and other issues Friday morning.

• Aaron Schaffhausen

Ex-wife testifies most of day in Schaffhausen trial

She recalled the phone message she received when Aaron called and said he had “killed the kids.” I told him, “It wasn’t funny and he shouldn’t say things like that,” she said.

County takes another step in P4P employee plan

The pay for performance (P4P) program for county employees took another step toward completion Tuesday morning when the Board of Supervisors approved a resolution for a union pay plan and adjustments.

Hudson’s Jason Hawksford is into fishing

Jason Hawksford, Hudson, and his teammate Cody Lincoln, Okauchee, both sophomores at UW-Stevens Point, participated in the FLW College Bass Tournament at Lake of the Ozarks, Mo., March 16. They finished 15th out of 50 college teams.

• Lake of the Ozarks
• Fishing partners

Columns

Jon’s Jottings: Two more World War II vets join final roll call

While we honored those who have served our country on Veterans Day last Friday, I was reminded of two World War II veterans we lost not long before.

Jon’s Jottings: Reflections of National Football League strikes past

A national crisis has apparently been diverted. The Associated Press reported this week the National Football League owners and players’ union have all but settled a strike started in March and the lockout of players will soon be over.

• Jon Echternacht

Jon's Jottings: Murray Warmath RIP

Yet another important figure in the football annals of the Upper Midwest has left the field. Former University of Minnesota head coach Murray Warmath died March 16 in Minneapolis.

• Murray Warmath

Jon's Jottings: Long-time Packer fan, scribe, promoter dies

Maybe amid all the protest news from Madison lately it got lost in the shuffle, but another long-time member of the Packer Family went to that great press box in the sky. Art Daley died Feb. 19 in a Green Bay hospital. He was 94.

• Arthur J. Daley

Jon's Jottings: The Mitchell 300, it was the best of breed

I was sad to get the belated news of the death of the Mitchell 300. It came by way of the first chapter in Hudson author Mike Yurk’s latest book, “A View from the Lake,” where he announced a farewell to the Mitchell 300 spinning reel.

• Mike Yurk’s sixth book is hot off the press

Jon's Jottings: Sam Nooger was never good at sitting still

In this business a reporter encounters not only a fair number of nut jobs, ne’er-do-wells and wannabes, but also interesting and unique people with fascinating history. I was saddened recently to hear of the passing of one of those interesting persons who crossed my path in Hudson – Sam Nooger.

• Sam Nooger and companion Hercules in December 2006

Jon's Jottings: She’s still competitive at 111, pushing for a state record

We all enjoy significant birthdays throughout our lives, and I’d like to acknowledge a special one in my family. My maternal grandmother, Ruth Kelly, celebrated the 111th anniversary of her birth on Sept. 20.