Redevelopment plans in the works

The Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down Democratic Gov. Tony Evers’ statewide mask mandate Wednesday, stripping the governor of one of his last remaining tools to curb large-scale spread of COVID-19 as the state stands on the precipice of another surge in infections.

Gov. Tony Evers will this week host the fourth of six virtual Badger Bounceback Live Sessions to discuss his 2021-23 budget proposal. As highlighted in a video message from the governor, the listening session will cover topics such as ensuring every kid has access to a high-quality, public e…

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced the City of New Richmond is an applicant for funding through the Safe Drinking Water Loan Program (SDWLP) to address deficiencies in its public drinking water system. The projects primarily include the replacement of lead se…

The Co-Chairs of the Joint Committee on Finance (JFC), Senator Howard Marklein (R-Spring Green) and Representative Mark Born (R-Beaver Dam) announced three in-person public hearings and one virtual public hearing related to the State Budget.

A close race was predicted to fill the seats on the Town of Osceola board and that's exactly what happened Tuesday night. 

The Polk-Burnett Chapter of the Wisconsin Farmers Union (PB-WFU) met over Zoom to determine their annual plans for supporting our local farms and rural community. During a time when many organizations are finding it hard to engage with members, over a third of the registered chapter members …

Gov. Tony Evers together with Department of Transportation Secretary-designee Craig Thompson made three stops across the state Wednesday on "Pothole Patrol" to repair potholes and discuss the governor's Badger Bounceback agenda's investments for local roads and highways. The governor and sec…

The following is from St. Croix County Public Health: 

The largest regular disbursement ever from the Board of Commissioners of Public Lands’ (BCPL) Common School Fund will provide books and technology.

Performances are coming back to the Osceola School District.

In an unprecedented year, USDA staff and dairy producers across the country worked together to protect dairy operations for the 2021 production year under USDA’s risk management program options – the Dairy Margin Coverage (DMC), Dairy Revenue Protection (DRP), and Livestock Gross Margin for …

Gov. Tony Evers, with the Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), today announced everyone age 16 and over will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine starting April 5, 2021. Wisconsin currently leads the nation in being one of the most efficient vaccinators for getting available shots …

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is extending the deadline from March 5 to April 9 for agricultural producers to apply for the Quality Loss Adjustment (QLA) Program because of recent winter storms and some clarifications to program rules. This program assists producers, including th…

Congressman Tom Tiffany (WI-07) will host a Listening Session in Hudson on Monday, March 29 from 12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Constituents of the 7th District are invited to attend and will have the opportunity to submit questions for Congressman Tiffany to answer.

The Osceola and St. Croix Valley Railway will happen in 2021. 

The Osceola School District will be saying goodbye to three longtime staff members at the end of the year. 

St. Croix County Public Health was notified that a teenage individual recently tested positive for the COVID-19 variant B.1.1.7. This is the variant that was first discovered in England during November and December of 2020. Researchers believe that this variant spreads more rapidly and easil…

Candidates running for Osceola School Board include Jan Carlson and incumbent Brooke Kulzer.

Bryan Raddatz looking for another term as President. He will be joined on the ballot by Grace Bjorklund, Joe Peterson and Yvette Varner, who are running for the trustee seats. 

Turnover looks to be minimal in the Osceola Village Board election. Village President Jeromy Buberl is running unopposed for another term. Meanwhile, in the trustee races, incumbent Brad Lutz is seeking another term. Van Burch wasn’t going to seek another term, but had a change of heart with…

Nobody knows for sure.

During the Chair’s report, Board Chair Chris Nelson said, “As everyone is aware, there has been a lawsuit filed against the county for the Stower Trail.” He said there have been a lot of phone calls from individuals and Townships with questions about it.  “I just want to make sure the public…

A trailer home explosion Wednesday afternoon in Dresser resulted in the death of a man and three homes being damaged. 

A trial date has been set in the case of a Dresser man against the Town of Osceola government, alleging the government caused him harm.  

Friday’s preliminary hearing involving Dan Steffen, the number two prosecutor in Burnett County and Osceola native, was brief.

An Osceola man was charged in Polk County Circuit Court last week with attempted first-degree intentional homicide along with possession of a firearm by a felon. 

“This isn’t about whether the decision was right, but if it was done correctly,” said Judge Edward F. Vlack during the most recent hearing concerning the Stower Seven Lakes State Trail (SSLST). Vlack made the statement after granting a temporary restraining order to keep the trail snowmobile…

Gov. Tony Evers announced Thursday a federally supported mass vaccination clinic will open on April 8 at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire’s Zorn Arena for COVID-19 vaccinations. In coordination with state and local partners, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Emergency …

Gov. Tony Evers Monday urged bipartisan support for his 2021-23 Capital Budget proposal released last month as the state looks to bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic. Gov. Evers' biennial capital budget, which includes major projects in 31 of Wisconsin's 72 counties, represents one of the…

Osceola Fire Department members elected Paul Elfstrom as its new Fire Chief, replacing Don Stark, who stepped down after 14 years last month. 

 The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) last month announced that communities across the state received $126 million in transportation funding payments on January 4, the first quarterly payments for 2021.

Businesses and organizations across Wisconsin are getting more than $1.65 million in grants from the Department of Workforce Development (DWD). The grants are part of DWD's Wisconsin Fast Forward initiative that provides targeted funds to support worker training, education, and recruitment.

 The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) confirms that a white-tail deer herd at a Burnett County breeding farm that tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD) in 2020 was depopulated on March 3, 2021. None of the remaining 14 deer tested positiv…

Public school graduates in Wisconsin once again performed above the national average on Advanced Placement exams while in high school, a report released last month showed.

 WITC earned the 2021-22 Military Friendly® School designation by VIQTORY, the leader in successfully connecting the military community to civilian employment, educational and entrepreneurial opportunities.

The topic between Mill Pond Learning Foundation Board members and Osceola Village Board members last week started out as what to do pertaining to donor recognition signage. 

Dresser man dies in trailer home explosion 

A year of pandemic has been hard on people but they’ve taken to the outdoors in great numbers, including important parks and trails in Polk County.

Gov. Evers and the Department of Health Services (DHS) announced Tuesday individuals age 16 and older with certain medical conditions will be eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine beginning March 22, which is earlier than previously expected. This eligibility group includes individuals with medi…

Warmer spring temperatures are a welcome relief in Wisconsin, but they also mark a return to flood season across the state. Flooding from melting snow or heavy spring rains is one of the most common hazards in Wisconsin, and it puts lives and property at risk each year.