FREE PRESS AMERY
1892 - 2017
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2017
125 YEARS STRONG
VOL. 121 NO. 36 www.theameryfrepress.com $1.00
SPORTS: Smith places third at State wrestling PAGE 15
Officers use Am-Tec for training day
Amery mourns loss of beloved teacher and wrestling coach
BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Employees of Am Tec in Amery were given a bonus day of paid vacation February 3, all so that local law enforcement could take advantage of an almost unheard of opportunity— to train for an active shooter using real life surroundings. In an age where such an event is increasingly more common, it was an opportunity that Osero jumped on, without hesitation. After being approached by officer Mark Andren, Osero ran the idea by their partner company 3M, who has equipment in the building. And 3M too, was behind it 100 percent. To train in a warehouse amongst pallets, machinery, shelves, and a maze of offices, was a unique opportunity not only for the local agencies taking part, but also for the department conducting the exercise. Neenah’s SWAT team gets grant funding to train officers throughout Wisconsin, and then uses those funds to travel to Florida for their own specialized training each year. Officer Stu Zuehls of the SEE TRAINING PAGE TWO
CONTRIBUTED
And the snacks weren’t bad either Colton Waterman submitted a letter to The Amery Free Press with a picture of a fish he caught on New Year’s Day with his dad. “I’m a second grader at Lien elementary School in Amery,” Colton writes. “I am 7. I caught a ten pound, ten ounce, and 35 inch Northern. I caught it on White Dash [sic] Lake with my Dad and his friend Erin. It was a Mama Northern. By the way, we caught it on a tip up. The only food and drinks that we had were beef jerky and nutty bars and Sun Drop. By the way, I caught a bigger fish that was 36 inches long when I was six.”
Amery School District officials announced heartbreaking news of the death of High School Teacher and Wrestling Coach Scott Marko Monday morning. Marko passed away of an apparent heart attack Monday, having only just returned from the State Wrestling tournament in Madison over the weekend. District officials announced the news to students and teachers Monday morning, before notifying parents via the school’s district wide announcement system around 11 a.m. In a recorded call that was sent to Marko parents of high school students, Superintendent James Kuchta explained, “I’m calling you with sad news. This morning we were informed that long-time Amery School District teacher and head wrestling coach Scott Marko, died of an apparent heart attack. I do not have other details to provide to you. “Please keep our school and community in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time,” Kuchta added. “Trained staff have been available for students at all school buildings and will be available throughout the week. We are providing this information for you to assist your child as needed.” Marko was 43 years old. He leaves behind a wife (Brooke) and five children; Hunter, Kole, Griffin, Zander and Abby, a large extended family, and many grieving students, community members, colleagues and friends. A visitation for Scott Marko will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, March 1 at the Amery High School gymnasium, and for two hours prior to Thursday’s services at the church. Funeral services will be held at Alliance Church of the Valley in St. Croix Falls. A private family internment will be held at a later date. COMPLETE OBITUARY LISTED ON PAGE 12.
Evers/Holtz, Tolan/Malone advance to April 4 ballot BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
Wisconsin voters went to the polls Tuesday, February 21 to help narrow the field in two important races that will be on the April 4 ballot.
Locally candidates decided between Dan Tolan, Malia Malone, and Dave Danielson for Branch 1 Judge of Polk County Circuit Court. Dan Tolan took the most votes countywide with 1,604, followed by Malone with 930, and Danielson with 764.
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Statewide voters also helped select two candidates for State Superintendent of Public Instruction. Incumbent Tony Evers took 69.6 percent of the statewide vote with 255,520, followed by Lowell Holtz with 23 percent (84,381) and John Humphries with 7.4 percent
(27,057). Polk County results mirrored the statewide outcome for the most part, with 1,798 votes, 691 votes, and 512 votes respectively.
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