Articles

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

County farm history recognized

Scotty Ard, center, New Richmond, and Aleisha Miller, right, of the land and water department, received certificates of appreciation from the county for their work with an historical display they compiled on the long history of the county farm in New Richmond. The awards were presented at the March 7 board of supervisors meeting by administrator Pat Thompson, left.

• Scotty Ard and Aleisha Miller

Municipal officers recognized

Long serving officers of municipalities in St. Croix County were recognized by the board of supervisors March 7. The group includes, from left, Tom Caflisch, River Falls City Council, Lois Burri, town of Cylon treasurer for 34 years, Katy Kapaun, Roberts, Steve Peterson, Hammond, George Klein, North Hudson, Chuck Pizzi, Roberts, and Ken Peterson, Hammond.

• Municipal Officers

New St. Croix River bridge expected open for traffic in 2016

After decades and decades of waiting, the first traffic across a new St. Croix River bridge south of Stillwater is expected in 2016.

Attorneys spar over Schaffhausen motions

The defense and prosecution waded through a litany of motions in the Aaron Schaffhausen murder case in St. Croix County Circuit Court Friday morning. Judge Howard W. Cameron, Assistant Attorney General Gary Freyberg and public defender John Kucinski sparred over some two dozen motions.

• Aaron Schaffhausen

Large jury pool set for Schaffhausen trial

The largest group of potential jurors will be in the pool for the Aaron Schaffhausen trial. Schaffhausen, accused of killing his three young daughters in their River Falls home last July, is scheduled to stand trial for three weeks beginning April 1.

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.