With Tuesday's 5 p.m. filing deadline passed, the village of North Hudson appears to offer the most interesting contests in the upcoming April 6 spring election.

Jon Ihrke of the St. Croix County Highway Department cleared the sidewalks on the Mallalieu bridge Monday afternoon. The first significant snowfall of the winter brought six inches of snow and subzero temperatures to the Hudson area.

Forget the dreaded karaoke, as was planned by an Illinois motel for that inhospitable night before snow forced a cancellation.

Rep. Kitty Rhoades recites the pledge of allegiance to the American flag with 4-year-old friend Madaline Drewiske. Madaline led a crowd of more than 200 in saying the pledge at the swearing-in ceremony for Rhoades, the 30th District's new assemblywoman.

Kitty Rhoades took her oath of office as representative to the Wisconsin Assembly in front of more than 200 friends and relatives last week.

"With one year to go, I am pleased to report that our massive Y2K efforts at NSP are proving to be very successful," said Loren L. Taylor, president of Northern States Power.

After a decade in the Wisconsin Legislature, Sheila Harsdorf has advice for new lawmakers: Listen.