FREE PRESS MESSENGER AMERY
TUESDAY, AUGUST 30, 2016 THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222
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SPORTS: Amery soccer downs 4th ranked Rice Lake PAGE 17
Bomb threat makes for COUNTRY turbulent first day at Amery Schools
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 33, 2222
Serving Marine-on-St. Croix, Scandia, May Township BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
The first day of classes at Amery School District got off to a rocky start Monday, as School officials and local law enforcement responded to a bomb threat called in to the High School at 10:37 a.m. The caller didn’t offer much information other than a bomb was in the high school, before hanging up. Students and staff were promptly evacuated from the building, and parents were notified via voice message a short time later. Ten to twelve officers from Amery, Clear Lake, and Polk County were on scene within minutes, along with Amery Fire Department’s assistance with traffic control. Local law enforcement conducted a thorough search of the high school and were able to give the all clear by noon. “We’re doing everything that we can, working with authorities,” says Superintendent Jim Kuchta. “It just takes one person to do something like this and it impacts so many. It’s a bit disheartening. On the positive side, our students and staff reacted so positively and so well in dealing with this that it’s a tremendously positive reflection on the students, staff and community.” The incident comes on the heels of a similar threat that occurred in February, which seemed to prompt frustration from many directions. That incident, which came the day after a
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The long-vacant Alco building had been purhased by First Baptist Church in January, and was slated to be renovated as the Church’s new home. With an offer from Kwik Trip accepted this week, the site could be the future home of a Kwik Trip store.
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Kwik Trip makes offer to purchase Alco property from First Baptist Church BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
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Ironically, interest in the property seemed to pique after First Baptist took ownership, bringing two interested parties forward. The second and more serious inquiry came from Wisconsin-based Kwik Trip, Inc., who first contacted the church in early June. After weeks of discussion, Kwik Trip finally made a formal offer to purchase the property last week.
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If you believe in divine intervention, such a force may be at work in the case of Amery’s long-vacant Alco building. First Baptist Church initially purchased the property in January with hopes of making it their new church home.
ISANTI-CHISAGO
SEE THREAT PAGE TWO
First Baptist voted overwhelmingly in favor of accepting the offer, which will be finalized this week. “What the sale would do would be to put us back to square one, but in a good way financially,” says First Baptist Pastor Nick Buda. “This is an absolute blessing to us, because with our
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SEE KWIK TRIP PAGE TWO
Public weighs in on new boat landing design
BY JESSICA DE LA CRUZ EDITOR@THEAMERYFREEPRESS.COM
neering’s Nicole Hodkiewicz and Ian McGregor. During the meeting, Hodkiewicz presented a design that was a culmination of compromises between the Department of Transportation (DOT), Department of Natural Resources (DNR), neighborhood residents, and the city. The proposed design takes into account factors involving wetland displacement, slope and drainage of the
parcel, and traffic patterns on and off Highway 46. As designed, the layout includes parking spots for up to eight vehicles with trailers. Vehicles will enter the landing from highway 46 and exit onto Arlington Avenue. The parking spaces do not accommodate vehicles to pull through. Rather, vehicles will need to back out of their spots, exit the landing, and re-enter
THE SUN A dozen or so community members were on hand for Tuesday’s public engagement meeting on the newly proposed boat landing on North Twin Lake. Members of the city’s council’s Public Works Committee were also in attendance, along with Cooper Engi-
Serving Polk County’s St. Croix Valley since 1897
again off of 46 to load. The existing boat landing structure will be capped off with a curb and gutter, and the remainder of the lake frontage will remain rustic. Community members also questioned the size and number of pre-cast concrete slabs for the launch area. Some felt that the number would be inadequate for larger, modern pontoons/ SEE LANDING PAGE TWO
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