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Scout tackles goose problem at Balsam Lake beach

Vandals wreak havoc on local business

Fishing opener 2014 to be held in Balsam Lake

New gazebo begins Milltown's Music in the Park

Whacked, sprayed and tazed, man still resists

World "No Tobacco" Day

Land on the river, private improvement and public good

Another earnest look at the impacts of Mental Health

Spring art show highlights young artists

Dresser man in right place, right time

Illegal fireworks operator gets burned

Business to expand in Centuria's Industrial Park

Disaster procedures at issue in Centuria

Weather holds up street improvement project

The "cop shuffle" in Centuria

Many helping, many helped

Interested in local history? Come to the Luck Museum

Lungs, legs and heart rates-the Frederic Lions Bike Race

Burglary bust bursts (meth) bubble

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
WIAA Division II Track and Field Regionals at SCC

Golfers hit it at Turtleback, sail into Krooked Kreek

Cards deal blow to Saints

WIAA Division II Track at Frederic

West Lakeland All Conference Golfers

The Outdoor Report


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Mortgages: Entitlement vs requirement
By Lynda C. Olds
At the behest of former Supervisor Tim Kufalk, who spoke with both Supervisor Rick Scoglio and County Board Chair William F. Johnson IV, a presentation was given to the county board on Tuesday identifying problems with the Mortgage Electronic Registration System (MERS).
Chair Johnson, along with County Administrator Dana Frey, enlisted the aid of Register of Deeds Laurie Anderson to shed some light on this subject. Anderson brought Deb Johnson with her, who has 20 years experience in the title insurance business and is the current Polk County Property Analyst.
“The purpose of MERS was to enable financial institutions to evade county recording fees, avoid publicly recording mortgage transfers, facilitate the rapid sale of securing of mortgages and to shorten up foreclosures,” stated Anderson, which was quite a mouthful.
​See the County Ledger Press (May 23) for the entire article.
Is there still a county role for Home Health Care?
By Lynda C. Olds
Polk County Administrator Dana Frey has become known for telling it like it is. He does not sugarcoat the facts. He shared some budget wisdom with supervisors at their regular May meeting on Tuesday night.
But first he pointed out what he called a “dramatic turnaround” for Golden Age Manor. He said they went from a negative $400,000 in 2011 to a positive $314,000 in 2012.
“All told, 2012 came out about like we thought it would across the departments. Human Services incurred a fairly substantial loss because of out-of-home placements…some of which was recovered through salary reductions within the department.”
Frey said this year looks better for Human Services, but indicated it is still really too early to tell.
Frey went on to discuss his analysis of the Home Health Care program from a policy perspective. He sat down with other providers to get an idea what the capacity is out there for provision of services. He said the question is, “Is there still a role for the county, given all of the changes out there and the number of other bodies that provide home care services – and if so, what is that role?”
​​See the County Ledger Press (May 23) for the entire article.
“To predict the future: Create it”
By Lynda C. Olds
It was an apt quote the Luck Class of 2013 chose as their motto: “The best way to predict the future is to create it,” by Abraham Lincoln. The mural, depicting blazing, rainbow-colored flames shooting out of a hand, made for a compelling backdrop as the class was commenced on Sunday afternoon at Luck School.
After (retiring) High School Principal (and Athletic Director) Mark Gobler greeted everyone, Salutatorian Geoffrey A. MaidenMueller took ably to the stage. The place was packed – in spite of a rather small graduating class of just 40.
​​See the Enterprise Press (May 23) for the entire article.
Easements aren’t always easy
​T.A. Doughty-St. Hilaire
The St. Croix Falls City Council held a special meeting at which members did site tours of a couple of pieces of property that are of certain interest to other parties as well as the council itself.
The council met at the police garage in the industrial park to walk what is known as the Rousselow property. It is of particular interest to the Woolly Bike Club who is interested is expanding their trail network and hopes to utilize the now vacant property.
On site to greet the council members was Mark Fisk, who is a certified Master Mountain Bike Trail Builder.
The club would like to be able to tie into the Gandy Dancer Trail and Interlink Trail. The bikers could start at the Polk County Information Center using the Interlink to hit the Gandy and then to the new section of trail that would be constructed, possibly ending at the Jerusalem Pond.
​​​See this week's Standard Press (May 23) for the entire article.