FREE PRESS AMERY
1892 - 2017
125 YEARS STRONG
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017
VOL. 121 NO. 31 www.theameryfrepress.com $1.00
SPORTS: Amery Wrestlers have two Regional champs PAGE 19
Voter Guide:
February 21 primary will narrow candidate field Polk County Judge and State Superintendent of Public Instruction on the ballot BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ AND SUZANNE LINDGREN SENTINEL PUBLICATIONS
JESSICA DE LA CRUZ | AMERY FREE PRESS
Paul Isakson offically sells Isakson True Value to Todd Cunningham of Dresser, Wis. on March 1. Cunningham is no stranger to the hardware business, and looks forward to being a friendly face behind Amery’s hardware help desk.
Isakson retires from hardware biz BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Through every leaking pipe, missing tool, and DIY project, there’s been one constant in Amery: Paul Isakson and the local hardware store.
In his 26 years in the hardware business, 63-year-old Isakson has seen his share of challenges. Among them, a battle with cancer more than ten years ago, a hurdle that Isakson tackled with equal determination and persistence. There’s just something in him
that lives for a challenge. “I like coming to work every day and solving problems, taking care of stuff,” says Isakson. “What don’t I like? The hours. I worked seven days a week for years.” Knowing that the process of sell
MADISON, Wis. (AP) —Methamphetamine use has quietly surged in Wisconsin and now rivals opioid abuse as the state’s most serious drug problem, Attorney General Brad Schimel and FBI agents warned the Legisla-
NEWS 715-268-8101 editor@theameryfreepress.com
Judge, Branch 1 Malia Malone—Turtle Lake, Wis.
use increased between 250 percent and 300 percent from 2011 to 2015. The state crime lab saw a 349 percent increase in meth cases during that span; heroin cases the lab analyzed rose by 97 percent over that same period, the report found. ``While public safety
“My parents moved our family to Wisconsin in 1987. I completed high school in Hayward while working at my parents’ small business. I graduated from UWEC with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and went to Law School at Hamline. I have two smart and talented teenage daughters who are my rock. “The work that I have done Malone for over a decade for the people of Polk County is diverse and complex. I have
SEE METH PAGE NINE
SEE PRIMARY PAGE TWO
Committee chair unaware of growing meth problem ture’s criminal justice committees Thursday. Schimel and Justin Tolomeo, special agent-in-charge of the FBI’s Milwaukee office, presented the committees during a hearing with a November law enforcement report that shows meth use in the state has grown at a staggering rate. According to the report,
Polk County Circuit Court
SEE ISAKSON PAGE NINE
Legislators told that meth threat now rivals opioid use BY TODD RICHMOND ASSOCIATEDPRESS
This coming Tuesday, February 21, voters have the opportunity to participate in the Spring Primary Election, narrowing the field in two important races for the April 4 ballot; Polk County Circuit Court Judge for Branch 1, and the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Three candidates have declared their candidacy for Branch 1 of Polk County Circuit Court; Malia Malone of Turtle Lake, Dave Danielson of St. Croix Falls, and Dan Tolan of Luck. Similarly, voters statewide will choose among three candidates for Superintendent of Public Instruction; Tony Evers, Lowell Holtz and John Humphries. Beginning with the judicial candidates, we asked each candidate to touch on four areas; a little about themselves, their experience and background, challenges facing Polk County and what role they would play in solving them, and why they’re seeking the position. Here are their responses.
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