The Osceola School Board voted in their last meeting on August 4 to support the T21 Smoking Age Bill.
In response to severe lung problems reported across the nation by people who have used electronic cigarettes, the Polk County Health Department is urging area residents not to vape or use e-cigarettes.
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Kari Zegarski, longtime clerk for the Village of Osceola, has accepted a position with the City of Oak Park Heights. Her last day with the village will be September 18.
UPDATE: The Polk County Sheriff's Office September 17 released the names of those who died as a result of the September 16 crash: The driver fatally injured was 16-year-old Michael Magnuson, from rural Clayton. The passenger fatally injured was 16-year-old Grace Schradle also from rural Clayton.
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Jahnnalee Randall grew up with an airstrip in her backyard. Measuring half a mile long and 70 feet wide, it’s been there since she was a girl, though neither she nor her father can remember exactly what year it was constructed, only that it was before 9/11.
Southbound Interstate 35E will close at I-35W in Lino Lakes beginning 10 p.m. Friday, Sept. 13, to 10 a.m. Sunday, Sept. 15, for the removal of the I-35W flyover bridge over I-35E. Motorists will be detoured around the closure using I-35W, Highway 10 and I-694.
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The ArtBarn’s ambitious 2019 season continues this month with Noel Coward’s “Blithe Spirit.” The show revolves around Charles Condomine, an author writing a book about a medium who is supposed to be a charlatan. As part of his research, he and his wife Ruth invite a “real” medium to their ho…
At the suggestion of its newest supervisor, Brandon Whittaker, the Town of Osceola will consider increasing its town board from three to five members.
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When teenage siblings Ali and Jordan Gutha hear stories of children in foster care, they can relate. The pair and their younger siblings — 11-year-old Jakob, 10-year-old Alyssa, and 8-year-old Colin — were all foster kids before being adopted by Angel and Karl Gutha.
Students at Osceola High School will pay more for parking this year. The Osceola School Board approved an increase to student parking fees in August, raising the rate from $10 to $50 for the 2019-20 school year.
Cherie Link last week announced plans to run for the Wisconsin State Senate 10th District seat in November 2020.
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Wheels & Wings to host Franklin’s Flying Circus, Mike Wiskus
As the 2020 presidential election draws nearer, Wisconsin finds itself in a newly-minted battleground status. In 2016 President Trump became the first Republican to capture Wisconsin’s 10 electoral votes since Ronald Reagan, yet Democrats swept statewide offices during the 2018 midterms. The…
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Four murals depicting local scenes were mounted over bricked-in windows last week on the side of Adoray’s Treasures From the Heart.
The Polk County Board last week approved a resolution supporting agriculture of all types and sizes, as long as those farms comply with regulations.
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When Kim Gearin heard about a grassroots movement to depolarize America, she thought of her friend, Lisa Erickson.
Polk County’s Unit of the Wisconsin Towns Association (WTA) had plenty to discuss at their quarterly meeting on August 22. The proposed concentrated animal feeding operation (CAFO) that Iowa’s Suidae Health and Production wants to build in Trade Lake led to, in recent weeks, the passage of a…
The Willberg Memorial Library of Osceola is launching two new technology programs. Led by the new library director, Shelby Friendshuh, the programs aim to build on the library’s mission of fostering learning and connecting the community.
A Polk County man has been sentenced to prison after pleading guilty to charges related to dealing methamphetamine, Wisconsin Attorney General Josh Kaul announced August 22.
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“I don’t really like the name ‘cold case’ as I think it implies we have pushed it off to the side and as law enforcement, we never give up, we never quit searching for the answers,” said Polk County Sheriff Brent Waak during a press conference August 23 regarding the 2009 disappearance of Ro…
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When a young dentist set up shop in downtown Osceola 44 years ago, few in town could have predicted the impact he and his wife would have on community in the years to come.
Osceola police officers plan to participate in the countywide Shop with a Cop event August 21. The annual event enables school-age children to purchase school supplies.
The Osceola Village Board approved a resolution petitioning for state and federal aid to help fund projects at the airport.
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More than 130 people attended a Polk County Historical Society fundraiser with a Supper Club theme August 15. Held at the BrowTine Event Center, the event raised close to $10,000 for the Polk County Museum.
The Osceola Village Board August 13 extended the term of a promissory note issued in 2017. The original $900,000 general obligation note was used to purchase property at 657 State Highway 35, now the grounds of the fire department.
The Osceola Police Department has asked village leaders to create an ordinance barring possession of e-cigarette vaporizer devices for those under 18 years of age.
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Asger and Mary Elmquist, the in-laws of Community Homestead co-director Christine Elmquist, have lived alongside adults with special needs for their entire married lives.
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The back-to-school season is upon us. For many parents, this may conjure up images of weeks spent frantically scouring Target for a three-ring binder in the correct shade of magenta, buying new shoes and clothes, waiting in the LifeTouch line for what seems like hours just for your child to …
Members of the Polk County Tourism Council and Information Center staff, spent time at the Wisconsin State Fair last week, promoting Polk County.
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Residents of Northern Wisconsin affected by the severe weather that swept across the state July 19-20 have come together to support each other and express their gratitude for the National Guard as recovery efforts continue.
The Dresser Village Board August 5 approved a three percent water rate increase for the village, tentatively effective October 21, 2019.
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Farmington residents with an interest in the North 40 Resources mine were encouraged last week to apply for a seat on a citizens committee. The committee of five will review concerns and create recommendations governing potential expansion of the mine.
Gov. Tony Evers has requested the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to conduct a Preliminary Damage Assessment later this month for 19 Wisconsin counties and tribes hit hard by severe storms, flooding, straight line winds and tornadoes. This is the first step in potentially requesti…
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One day in 1965 I learned that By Blanchard, a teacher in Osceola, had a root beer stand for sale. I read the Richardson drive-in advertisements as a kid, and always wanted to own a root beer stand. I contacted Byron and learned that his son and daughter had outgrown their carhop aprons. His…
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The fifth annual Valley Brew Fest is coming Aug. 17.
Some of the winners at the 2019 Polk County Fair were:
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ArtBarn Theatre’s rendition of “Ole & Lena’s Wedding” will open this weekend.
Interstate 35W will close in both directions between Interstate 94 and Highway 280 in Minneapolis beginning at 10 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9 through 5 a.m. Monday, Aug. 12.
A program for LGBTQA communities in Minnesota and Wisconsin
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In 1869, when the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Parish was first established in Farmington, the state of Wisconsin was only 21 years old, and the 15,715 square miles that now encompass the current Diocese of Superior held only 12 parishes, including St. Anne’s of Somerset.
Osceola Interiors owner David Smith marked items down last week in preparation for all but moving from his shop.
What’s the difference between silica sand mining and fracking?
Joshua Langeback-Cross and Lanaya Wistrom were found yesterday, reported Langeback-Cross' mother, Sandra Cross.
UPDATE: The teens were found July 31, as reported by Sandra Cross about 6:25 p.m.
The Polk County Health Department has lifted the swimming advisory on Half Moon Beach in Milltown. Two consecutive samples have indicated bacteria levels are at safe swimming levels. Weekly monitoring will continue through Labor Day to ensure that the bacteria remain at a safe level for swimmers.
A lot has changed for Barron-based musician Chris Kroeze since he played Osceola’s community fair last September.
Efficient spending and strong sales tax more than made up for unexpected costs to Polk County in 2018, County Administrator Nick Osborne reported last week.
Have you seen the “What is Shine” signs around town?
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The St. Croix ArtBarn will not be the only company in the St. Croix Valley to perform Shakespeare under the stars this summer. On Saturday, July 27, Summit Players Theater is rolling into town to put on “Romeo and Juliet” at Interstate Park. The traveling troupe, which celebrates its fifth s…
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