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• Chamber of Commerce group established in Hammond, Roberts area
• Whitewater slalom racing returns to Apple River site this weekend
• New business plans move to Somerset
• New Richmond Sports Center could double in size

By Shay Tilander, RiverTown Staff

The Roberts and Hammond areas finally have their own Chamber of Commerce.

After about one year's time, the Central St. Croix Chamber of Commerce has been born.

Deb Flettre, president of the Chamber, says that business leaders in the community recently voted in favor of creating the Chamber.

"We're on our way to becoming (officially) a Chamber. The paperwork is in motion," Flettre said.

Flettre, a personal banking officer at Citizen's State Bank in Roberts, said the first goal in setting up a Chamber is the networking of all the businesses in the Hammond and Roberts areas.

"There are about 30 members (in the Chamber) if not more," Flettre said.

The Chamber's goal is to grow in membership and "make the business community in the area stronger."

The Chamber is looking to recruit new members, and any business owner is welcome to join.

"We are always looking for ideas and activities," Flettre said.

The group of business owners and area residents will meet twice a month to generate ideas and chart a direction for the Chamber. The next meeting is scheduled for May 21, at Pheasant Hills Golf Course in Hammond. There is a 5:30 p.m. social time and the meeting begins at 7 p.m.

As the Chamber begins to pick up steam, Flettre says the organization will plan more events.

The Chamber is working with the School District to bring a career day to the Middle and High schools. The date for the career day is tentatively set for Sept. 19, next school year.

"We want to educate the children about the different kinds of jobs that are out there," Flettre said. "It's a big thing."

The 42nd annual Apple River Slalom Race will be run through the rapids in Somerset May 10-11.

White water canoeists and kayakers are expected from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Missouri, Illinois and Canada for this Buttercup series favorite.

Practice runs and limited racing will take place Saturday afternoon, May 10. Racing will start Sunday, May 11, at 9 a.m. The race is sponsored by the Rapids Riders (Twin Cities) Buttercup Whitewater Slalom Racing (Medford, Wis.) and sanctioned by the American Canoe Association.

In white water slalom racing, the racer must paddle their boat through a series of gates suspended over the rapids. Gates must be run in the correct direction: upstream or downstream. Penalty time is added to the run for striking a gate pole or missing a gate. The fastest paddler (lowest time plus penalties) wins that class or age group.

All racers must use white water kayaks or canoes, wear a personal flotation device and wear a helmet. These rules limit participation to those with the proper equipment and skills.

Slalom racing is not just a bunch of "old school" guys in long boats. The reigning Buttercup champion, 13-year-old Hailey Thompson from Stevens Point will be racing in several classes. Look for her mom to be in a kayak too, along with more multi generation racing families.

The Apple River is a great race for beginning paddlers and for spectators. The river is generally an easy class I-II which challenges but does not intimidate the beginner.

There will be a few moves required that will provide a challenge to the experienced paddler as well, especially if the water is running high. Paddlers can flip and most of the time they roll back up, including the open canoes. Sometimes paddlers swim and need help.

All of the regular racers are experienced in swift water rescue (and swimming.) Spectators are welcome and they can get very close to the action.

Volunteers are needed for various roles including: set up and gate judging. Training is provided.

Contact Jeff Bolte at 715-386-9289 if you would like to volunteer.

The Buttercup Series includes seven whitewater slalom races around Wisconsin and Minnesota. For a complete listing of the Buttercup Series, the Web site is www.sws-wis.com/buttercup.

By Julia Ybarra-Young, RiverTown Staff

Somerset is getting a new business.

High-Quality Shavings, LLC is hoping to move into the Somerset Industrial park by next month.

At a public hearing on May 1 at the Village Hall, Rod Wilcoxson and Michael Feist, co-owners of the new business, outlined their plans for the facility.

"We just signed a five-year contract with another company, we would like to start June 15 and start running training," Feist said.

The business, a wood shaving supplier for animal bedding, will have a 46-foot smokestack on the exterior and the property will be enclosed by fencing.

"A big concern is the day care center for kids across the street," Feist said. "Our shaving machines will be on the back wall away from the kids and they won't hear it."

Feist also said they plan to have a shift of eight employees plus a full-time secretary. By August, they hope to add a second shift so they can run 24 hours a day.

"It's an industrial park, you can do that," said Jeff Johnson, Village president.

Feist also asked about purchasing the adjacent three-acre lot, but the Planning Commission said they would need to take that up with the Industrial Park Committee.

Two other businesses were on the agenda for the pubic hearing, a park and sell lot and a metal shaving business. The park and sell lot business discussion was tabled; the Architectural Sheet Metal Shavings was advised to let the Planning Commission know of new office tenants.

The Sports Center in New Richmond is considering a major expansion project.

City Property Committee members met with rink manager Brian Olson Friday to hear about possible plans.

Olson said the New Richmond Youth Hockey Association would like to construct a 180-foot addition to the east of the current rink. The new structure would cover property which currently holds an outdoor ice rink and a paved area that was proposed for a future skatepark.

The second indoor rink would not be used to expand hockey game opportunities, Olson said, but would be used for practices, open skating and figure skating offerings.

"We just wanted to see if it's a possibility," he told committee members.

The Committee voted 2-1 to recommend the proposal to the City Council. Newly elected Alderman Jane Hansen voted against the motion.

If the addition goes forward, Olson said the Hockey Association would like to promote the Sports Center for multi-use events. During poor fall or spring weather, Olson said sports teams such as tennis, baseball, softball or soccer might be able to use the complex for practices.

"It's not just a hockey thing," he said. "We want to make it more of a multi-purpose facility."

If the Association completes the addition, Olson said the organization would likely seek to take ownership of the Sports Center. The complex is now owned by the City and is on City property. The City maintains the outside of the Sports Center presently, and contributes $15,000 in taxpayer money to help operate the facility.

Property Committee Chairperson Fred Horne said the City would have to study the issue further before committing to such an ownership change, but he didn't shut the door on the possibility.

Horne said a number of additional issues, such as parking and storm water drainage, would need to be addressed before the proposal moves forward.

Olson said the Association is looking at several options to address the parking shortage in the area, including the possibility of buying a nearby house and converting the land into an additional lot.

As a result of the Committee's favorable recommendation, a public hearing on the matter will be scheduled to gather opinions and comments from neighbors of the Sports Center.

"We need to hear from the neighbors," Horne said.

Olson said the Hockey Association will schedule an open house in the coming days to invite nearby property owners and present their proposal.