A look back at 1998: Hudson sees triumphs and tragedies
Compiled by Doug Stohlberg, Randy Hanson, Margaret Ontl and Joe Winter
Local stories, like those of most years, offered a variety of news in 1998, but the extremes of both the triumphs and tragedies seemed to make 1998 a very memorable news year.There was the deaths of two young children and two other young people within weeks of each other last summer and fall. Bijal Gandhi, 25, died in a car accident in Hudson July 5. Weeks later Brent Howard, 16, drowned in a boating accident. Seven-year-old Carter Tierney died in a tragic dirt bike accident at the family's cabin in late August. In September, 8-year-old Nicholas Smith was killed in a bike-truck accident. Methamphetamine reared its ugly head with a vengeance in 1998 as St. Croix County earned the reputation of being a hotbed of meth manufacturing. Authorities appear to be gaining on the problem as the year comes to a close. The First National Bank of Hudson was robbed, and Sheriff Paul Burch died of a heart attack late in the year. Fortunately, there were many stories of triumph in 1998, topped by a Hudson High School girls basketball state championship. The Raiders topped Milwaukee Washington 59-56 in overtime to win the Division 1 title. The highway between Hudson and Madison was busy all spring. The boys basketball team also advanced to the state tournament for the first time since 1932. Boys hockey advanced to the state tournament. The boys swimming team sent a large contingent to Madison. There were, of course, the news stories that seem to resurface year after year. The proposed casino at St. Croix Meadows greyhound track was in the news early in the year. Then, after dropping off the front page for a few months, it has resurfaced during the end of 1998. There were developments in the 1993 death of Jane Neumann. There were many more stories in 1998, and we hope readers enjoy a brief walk through each week of the year.
JANUARY
Jan. 1
-A man and woman alleged to have stolen a $500 set of tools from the River Falls Sears store were caught in Hudson following a high-speed chase. The Hudson Police Department's dog, Zeus, was credited with tracking down the suspects when they fled from their car after it went into a ditch at the I-94/Hwy. 35 interchange.-The 1997 corn crop was jamming Wisconsin's storage facilities. Ag officials were expecting the harvest to be around 409 million bushels, the second-highest corn crop on record for the state. -Don Kelley and his assistants at Kelley Frame and Fine Art Gallery were busy framing stock certificates sold by the Green Bay Packers to raise money for improvements to Lambeau Field. Around 30 shareholders had paid $65 to $110 to have their $200 certificates framed. -The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported that a close friend of President Clinton who hosted a fund-raiser attended by the president and first lady the night before plans for a casino in Hudson were torpedoed was paid $4,000 to lobby against the deal. Washington attorney Thomas Schneider hosted the party at his home, raising about $350,000 for Clinton's campaign.
Jan. 8
-William Henry Kalmon was the first baby born in Hudson in 1998. The 8-pound, 6-ounce baby was born just before noon on New Year's Day at the home of his parents, Martha and John Kalmon.-An ice storm Sunday night, Jan. 4, caused numerous traffic accidents in the Hudson area. The county dispatch center received 17 reports of accidents between 6 and 8 p.m. -A Hudson youth was airlifted to Regions Hospital in St. Paul for treatment of stab wounds to his shoulder and arm after a fight at a residence in the High Meadows subdivision in the town of Hudson. A juvenile boy from Milwaukee who had been living in Hudson for several months was accused of the stabbing. -It was announced that Hudson resident Jennifer Kaye McDowell had been elected to the executive board of directors of the Twin Cities Airports Task Force. The goal of the organization of business leaders is to make the Twin Cities a global commerce center.
Jan. 15
-The success of the movie "Titanic" was bringing requests for Joan Daniels to share her knowledge about the historic ocean liner. Daniels, a former resident of WinterGreen, has been a member of the Titanic Historical Society for more than two decades.-Edie Bjerstedt, the 6-year-old daughter of Todd and Denise Bjerstedt of Hudson, appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show." Edie was one of six children invited to discuss Bill Cosby's children's books with Cosby and Winfrey. -Assembly Services and Packaging Inc. and the James Lawrence Co. won Business of the Year awards from the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce. -Chamber President Mary Claire Olson reported that the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce and Tourism Bureau recruited a record 100 new members.
Jan. 22
-Hudson Medical Center announced that it had bought land on which to build a new hospital and clinic. The site of the new hospital will be the former George Hoel property on the southeast corner of the I-94/Carmichael Road interchange.-Hudson Prairie Elementary School was the name selected for Hudson's newest school. Polly Wangert, who noted that the area where the school is located was known as Hudson Prairie in the 1850s, submitted the name. -A delegation of 10 Hudsonites went to Washington, D.C., to voice their opposition to St. Croix Meadows dog track becoming a casino. Members of the group were Tim and Wendy Hood, Nancy Bieraugel, Colleen Maloney, Tom Irwin, Michael Madden, Mary Hawksford and Mark Reiland. -First National Bank Vice President Susie Gilbert was named 1997 Outstanding Community Volunteer at last week's annual Chamber of Commerce Awards Dinner.
Jan. 29
-The Green Bay Packers lose the Super Bowl to the Denver Broncos. Jeremy Rabitoy and two other employees of Dick's Bar who lost bets on the game were taken outside and doused with buckets of ice water.-Hudsonites Nancy Bieraugel and Sandra Berg, who are on opposite sides of the Hudson casino issue, testified in Washington, D.C., before the House Government Reform and Oversight Committee. Bieraugel said the casino proposal was rejected because there is "overwhelming local opposition." Berg said there are many who support a casino and many who don't care one way or the other. -News of the President Clinton-Monica Lewinsky sex scandal broke while the Hudsonsites were in Washington. -The Hudson Booster Club elected Doug Rose as its 1998 president. Steve Metzger was named vice president; Sue Nielsen, treasurer; and Terry Rowan, secretary. Other 1998 board members were Wayne Johnson, John Herink, Denny Lee and Craig Horwath.
FEBRUARY
Feb. 5
-Authorities were alarmed about the dramatic increase in the use of the illicit drug methamphetamine in St. Croix County. A special local, state and federal drug unit has been formed to fight the problem.-Hudson Mayor Jack Breault was ordered to pay former mayor Thomas Redner's lawyer bills for a lawsuit Redner brought against Breault. A Polk County judge ruled that Breault violated a campaign law by putting his name on a newsletter that touted the city government's accomplishments. -"Alice in Wonderland" was scheduled to open next week at The Phipps Center for the Arts. Niyati Gandhi of Hudson will play Alice. John Engebreth of Hudson is Tweedledee. -Dave Swanson of North Hudson was busy plowing the ice road across the St. Croix River to Bayport, Minn.
Feb. 12
-Lyle McGee of Hudson won $1,465,710 at the St. Croix Casino in Turtle Lake.-Thousands of people crowded the E.P. Rock launch field to feel the warmth and see the glow of balloons at the ninth annual Hudson Hot Air Affair. The weather was nearly perfect for all three days of the event. -A daytime thief took $250 from the cash register at the Old World Bake Shop on Second Street and stole a purse from a clerk at Hudson Warehouse Liquor on Webster Street. -Leon "Butch" Gary retired after working for the city's public works department for 33 years.
Feb. 19
-U.S. Attorney General Janet Reno appointed an independent counsel to investigate charges that campaign contributions influenced the Interior Department's denial of an application for an Indian casino at the St. Croix Meadows dog track.-Norwest Bank was expected to announce plans soon to buy MidAmerica Bank of Hudson and Houlton. -Chris Olson, the coordinator of the Miss Hudson pageant, explained how the pageant works after several letters to the editor complaining about the event appeared in the Star-Observer. Olson said the decision to move the pageant from The Phipps Center for the Arts to the St. Patrick's School gym was a financial one. -The Hudson girls basketball team won its fourth consecutive Big Rivers Conference championship. The boys won their first Big Rivers title.
Feb. 26
-River Falls native Karyn Bye helps the U.S. women's hockey team win a gold medal at the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano, Japan.-Arguments in the Four Feathers vs. city of Hudson lawsuit were heard in an Eau Claire County courtroom. The casino partnership's lawsuit claims that city officials broke a contract when they opposed plans for a casino at St. Croix Meadows dog track after having agreed to accept payments in lieu of taxes. -The Salvation Army announced plans to open an office in Hudson. The Rev. Keith Lueneburg, a local representative of the Salvation Army, said having a place to meet face-to-face with clients is important. -Leon Kearns was getting ready for another season pigeon racing. He has a team of homing pigeons that will fly for 13 hours straight, crossing 600 miles of unfamiliar territory, to return to their loft on Badlands Road in the town of Hudson.
MARCH
March 5
-Hudson High School's boys hockey team advanced to the WIAA state hockey tournament in Madison with a 4-3 win over River Falls in the sectional finals.-Hudson enjoyed one of its warmest Februarys on record, thanks to El Nino, a warming of the ocean surface off the western coast of South America that happens every four to 12 years. -Cardinal Health Inc. purchased a 11.3-acre site in St. Croix Business Park and started construction of a 100,000-square-foot distribution facility. The company is one of the nation's largest wholesale distributors of pharmaceuticals, hospital supplies and health and beauty aids. -Two-year-old Mason Mayne scared his mother when he walked away from home with his dog Sonny. Police found them unharmed 45 minutes later a quarter-mile from home.
March 12
-The Alcove gift shop at Hudson Medical Center and Linde's Hallmark were holding drawings for Princess Di Beanie Babies. Each shop received an initial shipment of a dozen of the purple stuffed bears named after Princess Diana of Wales. Proceeds from the raffles went to charities.-Ray Nitschke, the bald-headed, tough-as-nails linebacker for the Green Bay Packer title teams of the 1960s, died of a heart attack while on a drive with his daughter and granddaughter in Florida. -Bank St. Croix on Crest View Drive became Citizens State Bank following yet another bank merger. -A reception was held at the St. Croix County Government Center honoring Sheriff Paul Burch for his 30 years of service as a law enforcement officer. He started his career in 1968 as a member of the old county highway patrol and was elected sheriff in 1994.
March 19
-Hudson High School's girls basketball team gains the Division 1 state championship with a 59-56 overtime win over Milwaukee Washington. A big welcome-home celebration was held Sunday afternoon in the High School gym.-The boys basketball team earned its first trip to the state tournament since 1932 with a 54-45 win over D.C. Everest. -The Manufacturing Council of the Chamber of Commerce releases a report that says there is a lack of affordable housing in the Hudson area. The lack of moderately priced housing is contributing to a labor shortage in the area, the report says. -The new 750-seat auditorium at Hudson High School was dedicated Sunday, March 22. The $1.9 million facility also has larger band and choir practice rooms, dressing rooms, a scene shop and several practice rooms.
March 26
-Members of St. Patrick's Catholic Church returned from Yalpemech, Guatemala, intent on helping bring electricity to the village. Making the trip to the sister parish were Sr. Bernadette Kalscheur, Deacon Bernie Drevnick and Joan Richie.-A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the new Harvest Tech manufacturing facility in St. Croix Business Park. The manufacturer of parts for agricultural machinery has been located in North Hudson the past 15 years. -The boys basketball team loses 83-50 to Racine Case in the first round of the state tournament at Madison. -Country Kitchen gave its first Gold Star Award to waitress Lynda Pulse for her quick assistance to a woman who had collapsed in the ladies room.
April
April 2
-Miss Hudson and her court were selected. The seniors who will serve as Hudson's ambassadors are Reagan Riddle, first princess; Peggy Swircek, Miss Hudson; Amy Grossnickle, second princess; and Nikki Bevers, Miss Congeniality.-Tornado debris from St. Peter, Minn., landed in the Hudson yard of Jo Kruger. A cancelled check from Karen's Beauty Shop, St. Peter, written 27 years ago landed in her yard. A second check from St. Peter was found in Lakefront Park. -Susan McInnis is the new postmaster for Hudson. She is relocating from Bloomer. -Hudson residents visit Kenya in the midst of severe flooding from El Nino.
April 9
-John Schommer and Jerry McAllister won re-election to the school board with 900 and 933 votes, respectively.-Student chefs run the West Wing Cafe at Hudson High School. The cafe offers students a chance to cook and serve food to customers. Twenty students in the beginning chef's class, taught by Peg Vos, plan menus and prepare food as if they were running an actual restaurant. Fellow students, faculty and visitors can enjoy the cuisine for $3. -Former Hudsonite and professional figure skater Grant Rorvick will be Olympic Gold Medalist Tara Lipinski's road manager for the Champions on Ice skating tour.
April 16
-U.S. District Judge Ann Montgomery ruled Monday that the proposed Oak Park Heights-Houlton Bridge would have an adverse effect on the scenic St. Croix River. The ruling effectively halts any more progress on the existing plans for the $100 million dollar project.-The Inlow family offers customers from throughout the United States designs in precious gems. Richard works with his son, David, and even his grandchildren have designed pieces he offers for sale. -Willow River Elementary special education teacher Durk Stark relaxes while making turkey calls. The calls are crafted from turkey wing bones.
April 23
-Sheila Harsdorf announced to a surprised constituency that she would not seek re-election in the fall for family reasons. Harsdorf, a fifth-term legislator, serves on the Joint Finance Committee.-West Industries was sold to United Stars Holding of Beloit. Jim and Pat West owned the company for 22 years. -RJ's Meat and Grocery earned honors in six out of 24 categories in the Wisconsin Meat Product Competition.
April 30
-Areas of Willow River State Park were burned to stimulate growth of prairie plants and restore native grasses.-Hudson Rotary members hosted a delegation of five visitors from Bangladesh. -Hudson High School prom king and queen are Arah Jones and Jesse Penman. -United Way distributes $163,000 dollars to 39 organizations.
May
May 7
-Tyson Malchow, Hudson, is the youngest student to attend UW-River Falls. The 12-year-old is taking a computer program class at the college while he continues his studies at Hudson Middle School.-James Johnson announced officially he will be seeking the 30th district Assembly seat being vacated by Sheila Harsdorf at the end of her term. -Local residents Frederick W. Windolff and Gina Rae Rehder were arrested and charged April 29 on charges of dealing crack cocaine. 20 people have been subpoenaed in the drug investigation -Local stone quarry offers St. Croix County unique limestone and carving skills. Rivard Stone has been a family business for more than 30 years. -After teaching driver's education at Hudson High School for 26 years Bob Heidenreich is retiring at the end of the school year. He was also the boys basketball coach for 16 years beginning with his arrival in 1972.
May 14
-Phone thieves are arrested at the JR Ranch. The four men, from New York City, were arrested on telephone fraud charges involving hundreds of thousands of dollars.-A fire Tuesday night left the Futon Outfitters building at 412 Second St. gutted. The residents of the apartments in the building escaped without injury. The Hudson Fire Department fought the blaze from 7 p.m. until 4:30 a.m. Eventually they used foam to help prevent the fire from re-igniting. Despite the building's downtown location, damage was limited to the building at 412. -Willis Miller was interviewed by Brenda Kremer Brehdahl for the magazine Wisconsin West. The article will feature Miller's historical records and 58 years in journalism.
May 21
-Burglary at the St. Croix Outpost results in 36 stolen guns. Early May 18, thieves broke the front doors to gain access. When authorities arrived they found a car, which had been reported stolen in St. Paul, parked and still running in front of the building.-Boat came ashore, south of the I-94 bridge, with motor running but nobody on board. Authorities suspect a possible drowning. -Fire in downtown Hudson suspected to be electrical in origin. The fire gutted the building that housed the Futon Gallery on Second Street. -More local arrests were made as part of a federal drug investigation in the Hudson area. Mary Ann Windolff and her son, John, were arrested after a grand jury indicted them on charges of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine from the summer of 1997 through April of 1998.
May 28
-Three traffic fatalities occurred on area roads last week.-A North Hudson woman is electrocuted while working on a swimming pool. Kimberly Wahlberg was found by her husband on the deck of the family's above-ground pool. -Henry Paulson announced he is retiring after 14 years as Hudson Public Works director. -Wisconsin 150th birthday is celebrated throughout the state and at a ceremony in Lakefront Park May 29. -The Phipps Inn was completed decorated for Christmas, inside and out. A national catalog sales company selected the Hudson inn as the feature for their Christmas edition.
June
June 4
-Storm rips through area May 30. All of the lights went out on I-94 through Hudson. Troy township suffered the most damage with hundreds of trees downed and some power poles snapped off. Winds were reported up to 100 miles per hours in certain areas of the state.-Jay Griggs made it official he will seek the 30th District Assembly seat being vacated by Sheila Harsdorf. -A fire at the Afton Marina damages four boats to the tune of $1 million. -The Education Foundation of Hudson awarded $14,000 in Star Grants to L. Allan Hoogheem, Kathy Roberts, Tom Bednarowski, Carol Gilbert, Dan Girtz, Dan Koch and Nancy Sweet.
June 11
-Hudson High School graduated 253 seniors in an outdoor ceremony. Star Excellence awards were given during the ceremony to George Bowman, Tom Bednarowski, Carol Dahle and former teacher Lowell Kees.-Bertha Fenner and Martha Hector, who are sisters, have been working side by side for over 40 years at the Dibbo Cafe. Bertha has made 18 pies, from scratch, a week for the last 40 years. That adds up to 37,440 pies. -Animal parts fished from St. Croix River. Originally the lungs were thought to be human but St. Croix County Medical Examiner Martin Shanklin determined they were from either a pig or cow.
June 18
-Boater's body found June 10. David C. Sigrist of North St. Paul had been missing since May 18 when his unoccupied boat came ashore with the motor running.-Mayor Breault has taken ill. He presided over a late City Council meeting June 15 and was admitted to Lakeview Hospital on Tuesday. Preliminary tests indicate the mayor suffered a heart attack. Breault, 67, is a retired 3M executive who has served the public off and on since 1969 as mayor, alderman, School Board member and County Board member. -Relay for Life raised 140,000. The event is held in New Richmond to benefit cancer research. -Dr. Kathy Antolak left her practice at Hudson Medical Center to pursue a Bush Medical Fellowship several months ago. She announced that she would not return at the end of the fellowship. -Hudson High School student Rachel Prescott competed in the national sharpshooters competition in Atlanta.
June 25
-Kitty Rhoades officially entered the race for the 30th Assembly District by announcing her candidacy at the River Falls Town and Country Days.-Scott Nelson, owner of Kozy Korner Pizza, was selected to be the grand marshal of Booster Days. -Buck Malick, a Hudson attorney, was appointed executive director of the Minnesota-Wisconsin Boundary Area Commission. The 33-year-old commission develops recommendations relating to protection, use and development of the land, river valleys and waters that form the boundary between Minnesota and Wisconsin. -Riverbank opens a facility in North Hudson. This branch is the fourth for the Osceola-based lending institution. The North Hudson branch will employee 11 people.
JULY
July 2
-Afton's old Methodist Church burns down. The Hudson Fire Department joined seven others in battling the blaze in the structure that was built in 1886 and housed the church until 1968. Since then the building has been used as a library and, most recently, an art studio.-A 58-team soccer tournament drew about 2,000 people to Hudson. Soccer representative Kelly Dunn said people attending the event jammed local motels and restaurants. -James Rusch was appointed to a four-year term on the State Examining Board of Architects, Landscape Architects, Professional Geologists, Professional Engineers, Designers and Land Surveyors. -A job fair attracted nearly 400 people and enhanced the chances of a health-care company coming to Hudson. Officials from Long Term Care Group Inc. wanted to know if there were enough available employees in the area.
July 9
-Bijal Gandhi, 24, died in a traffic accident on Crest View Drive, just across the road from Randy Iten Chevrolet. The accident occurred at 9:30 p.m. July 5. Stacy Gustafson, 25, was injured and later recovered.-James Bracey, 40, died during a motorcross race in Kellogg, Minn. It was later determined that he died of a heart attack. -The Bank of New Richmond announced plans to open a facility in the town of Hudson. -Hudson's Royalty Park is scheduled to open. The skateboarding and in-line skating facility is located at the St. Croix Valley YMCA. Hudson Rotary clubs spearheaded the effort.
July 16
-A 16-year-old Hudson youth, Brent Howard, was missing and presumed drowned after a boating incident on the St. Croix River. He was being towed behind a boat and disappeared. His body was found Aug. 2.-Developers announce that a Target store is tentatively planned for the Triple Play development on property formerly owned by the Hudson Country Club on the corner of Coulee and Carmichael roads. -A disc golf course opens at Willow River State Park. -Eighty-one Middle School students visited Washington, D.C., in a program coordinated by teacher Glen Fink and Tom Bednarowski.
July 23
-A River Falls man hanged himself with a bed sheet in the St. Croix County Jail. Sean Durbin had been arrested in River falls the night before the incident.-A new band director, Dennis Lindsay, arrived at Hudson High School. He will team with Chris Tank to lead the HHS instrumental program. -The Hudson Fire Department observed 125 years of service. A special section published by the Star-Observer highlighted the history of the organization and offered a salute to current volunteer firemen.
July 30
-Jon Spott of Roberts was in good condition after getting one of his legs caught in a Bobcat machine in a shed in the town of Hudson. He was airlifted to Regions Hospital.-Hudsonite Bill O'Connor was shocked to find that the Veterans Administration thought he was dead. The 44-year-old cook at Dibbo's received the letter, but was confident the mistake could be corrected. -Shareholders of the Hudson Golf Club approved plans for a new clubhouse by a vote of 235-33. Construction was scheduled to begin in mid-August. Cost of the structure was estimated at $2.6 to $3 million.
AUGUST
Aug. 6
-A 44-year-old River falls man was struck and killed while he walked on Hwy. 35 between Hudson and River Falls. The body of George L. Cigan was found in a cornfield near the road. The driver of the car is still being sought.-St. Patrick's School Principal Rita Bibeau returned from Poland, where she was involved in teaching English to Polish children. -Christina Schreiner remains in a coma three weeks after an auto accident south of Hudson on Hwy. 35 and Tower Road. She later regained consciousness and is recovering.
Aug. 13
-The St. Croix Valley YMCA gets approval to expand. Work on the 10,000-square-foot project will begin in the fall. The project will cost $1.4 million.-Wally and Bernie Gregerson were named grand marshals for the Pepper Fest in North Hudson. Marc Zappa was named good neighbor for the event. -Hudson High School athletic director Lee Alger resigned to accept the post of activities director at Tartan High School in the Twin Cities. -St. Paul's Episcopal Church announced plans for a new facility in the town of Hudson. The church has been at the present site for more than 110 years.
Aug. 20
-Seven-year-old Carter Tierney died following a dirt bike accident during a family outing on property near Cushing. The youngster was scheduled to enter second grade at St. Patrick's School in the fall.-Hudson schools opened with an enrollment of about 4,000 students. The opening also featured the first year of the new Prairie Elementary School. The incoming freshman class at Hudson High School has 380 students. -A fall drawdown of Lake Mallalieu was scheduled to begin Sept. 11. The drawdown was scheduled for dam repairs, but will be extended to kill Eurasian water milfoil. -The new Pepper Fest court includes Queen Jamie Jo Page, King Ed Nelson and Princesses Jennipher O'Meara, Melinda Gullixson and Carlie Andrews
Aug. 27
-The Wisconsin Attorney General's office recommended that no charges be brought against James Neumann. His wife, Jane, died in 1993 of an apparent suicide. A civil jury, however, ruled that Neumann was responsible for his wife's death. The attorney general ruled that there was not enough evidence to bring Neumann to trial.-Fred Windolff pleaded guilty in federal court to one charge of felony drug distribution. Similar charges against other family members were dismissed. Another defendant, Gina Rehder, fled while on bail and is still considered a fugitive. -Hudson property values increase 10.69 percent; North Hudson, 7.5 percent; town of Hudson, 12.73 percent; town of Troy, 15.15 percent; and town of St. Joseph, 11.34 percent. The county, overall, grew 10.53 percent. -Local public schools add 57 new teachers.
SEPTEMBER
Sept. 3
-The Northwest Airlines strike affects Hudsonites, including the way local travel agents conduct business.-Hudsonite Andrea Norvold, a minister to youths in Kenya, Africa, was only blocks away when a terrorist bomb went off at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. -The Hudson High School wind ensemble was selected to play at Carnegie Hall in New York on Easter Sunday night. This is the third time in recent years that the wind ensemble has been selected to perform in New York.
Sept. 10
-Kitty Rhoades defeated Jay Griggs in the Sept. 8 Republican primary for the state's 30th Assembly District. Rhoades went on to defeat Democrat James Johnson in the general election.-Hudson Middle School social studies teacher Michael Yell was named national social studies teacher of the year. Yell received his award at ceremonies in Anaheim, Calif. -Hudson High School seniors Matt Best and Jared Olsen were co-chairs for Hudson High School Homecoming activities. The theme was "Deck the Cards" as the Raiders hosted Chippewa Falls in a Saturday afternoon game. Hudson lost 49-7. -Missing county records were discovered in the old court house, now a private residence owned by David Tank. The records were returned when the "moving mistake" was discovered.
Sept. 17
-A Hudson youth, 8-year-old Nicholas Smith, was killed in a bike-truck accident in Maplewood, Minn. The youth was a third grader at Rock Elementary.-Three new site alternatives for the Stillwater bridge were announced at a meeting in Hudson. All three options were lower, closer to the lift bridge and shorter than the preferred alternative in the original Minnesota Department of Transportation proposal. -Hudsonite Karin Holt spent the summer as a member of the U.S. Embassy staff in Stockholm, Sweden. Holt is a student at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn. -Three Hudson High School alumni were named to the Wall of Fame. Longtime Hudson teacher Ann Murphy (HHS 1909) earned the honor posthumously. Dr. June Lomnes Dahl (HHS 1948) is a professor at UW-Madison and Gail Cornwall (HHS 1976) is a research scientist at Texas Tech.
Sept. 24
-It's official: Target is coming to Hudson. The firm brought plans for a 123,000-square-foot building on the corner of Coulee and Carmichael roads.-A brouhaha in North Hudson has some members of the Village Board and President Len Meissen at odds over committee appointments. The event also played a part in the resignation of Village Attorney Steve Goff. -Erin Larson returned from an 11-month volunteer assignment of teaching in Israel. Her visit was part of the Global Missions program through the Lutheran Church. -Hudson Mayor Jack Breault is back to work after suffering a heart attack earlier in the summer. -Hudson Banker Daryl Standafer is honorary chair of the annual United Way Drive. He will work with co-chairs Mike Christensen and Roger Bevers.
OCTOBER
Oct. 1
-The planned Stillwater bridge was in the news again, as consultant Dick Braun proposed a new corridor that was viewed as a compromise that would be accepted by various groups. The proposal is for a four-lane bridge two-thirds of a mile south of the existing lift bridge, but north of the main alternative that had been planned a year or two ago. But predictably, not everyone could stomach the new plan.-Hudson attorney Mark Gherty filed a petition with Judge Eric Lundell for a John Doe proceeding into the death of Jane Neumann to see if her husband at the time, James Neumann, was involved. -An incident of road rage along Hwy. 12 led to both combatants being arrested. A St. Paul man, driving a sport utility vehicle, pulled out in front of a dump truck driven by a Hudson man. After honking horns, both men got out of their vehicles and started duking it out.
Oct. 8
-A lone higginsii mussel found near the Lake Mallalieu dam that was being renovated prompted a temporary halt to the repair project, on orders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Riprapping of the riverbanks on both sides of the dam, and of the scour hole beneath in, was held up until a diver could check for more mussels. Repairs to the dam itself continued.-The Minnesota Vikings beat the Packers at Lambeau Field for the first time in years, and Viking fan Jim Traeger couldn't have been happier. Jim's wife, Tammy, and son, Tyler, are Packer fans, but his other son, Andrew, roots for Minnesota. The family stalemate was broken by Monday Night Football when dog Duke was crowned with a purple handkerchief - despite having dragged in a salamander from the yard minutes earlier. -Richard Busker and his seven children were looking for a place to live after fire ravaged their home east of Hudson. A passerby noticed smoke and flames coming out of the house on 100th Street. "It's not liveable," Busker said later.
Oct. 15
-First National Bank was robbed when a man walked inside in broad daylight and presented a note demanding cash and saying he had "friends outside." A suspect headed down the sidewalk on foot, toward Interstate 94, then jumped in a car. A 16-year-old juvenile was arrested after a car was stopped just 20 minutes later as it headed into Minnesota, but he was released after questions were asked of bank employees.-Students from St. Patrick's Catholic School spent time in the Willow River searching for dragonflies, crayfish and other critters they could study through biotic indexing. Public television station KTCA captured this on camera, part of their effort to make a half-hour documentary on the students' work. -F&M Bank in Hudson began foreclosure proceedings against the local VFW chapter for failure to make payments. Court documents said that Post 2115 borrowed $375,000 from the bank on Nov. 21, 1997, and that the last payment received was on Feb. 24, 1998. Documents showed that the VFW owed $306,039 as of Sept. 11.
Oct. 22
-A 23-year-old former Hudson woman was injured by a buffalo that wandered into her yard just outside of Baldwin after it escaped from its nearby pasture. A passing motorist saw Mollie Jensen on the ground and observed the buffalo hit her at least three times with its head. The motorist pulled into the yard, scared the buffalo off and took Jensen into her house. She was taken by ambulance to the Baldwin hospital, transported to Regions Hospital in St. Paul and later released.-Lew Sherman, 80, of Star Prairie was seriously injured when he was involved in a crash at what's arguably the Hudson area's worst intersection - Hwy. 35 and County N. Sherman received severe head injuries in the three-car accident, had to be cut out of his vehicle and later died of his injuries. This was one of several bad accidents on Hwy. 35 between Hudson and River Falls during 1998.
Oct. 29
-Darkness was falling on Hudson when Roy and Lana Sjoberg, who live along Vine Street, saw a black bear from their kitchen window. The animal, which was spotted in several places and was heading east, stood up to sniff their crab tree. The bear also was seen crossing Coulee Road near Birkmose Park.-Two teen-age prowlers met their match in Rose Ann Joa and Sheri Witt. The two women hid outside after hearing a tapping on their window, and then Joa jumped out and took a toy gun away from one of the boys, who were lectured and sent on their way - and told not to come back.
NOVEMBER
Nov. 5
-Kitty Rhoades won the 30th District Assembly seat, defeating Democrat James Johnson, in a race that determined who would succeed Sheila Harsdorf, the longtime Republican office holder. With 31 of 35 precincts reporting, Rhoades held a lead of 8,282 to 5,699. She was the director of the Hudson Area Chamber of Commerce in the early 1990s, then took a similar position in the Twin Cities' suburbs, while continuing to live in Hudson.-Fred "Buster" Windolff of Hudson was sentenced to 30 years in prison without the possibility of parole for selling crack cocaine in the area from the summer of 1997 through April 1998. Windolff, 37, had entered a guilty plea to the federal charge. -A Sunday afternoon fire was caused when a youngster spilled fingernail polish remover that was ignited by a candle. The mishap caused a large traffic backup on Second Street, which was blocked by emergency vehicles fighting the blaze. Melissa Spearman, the mother of the 12-year-old girl, suffered a minor head injury when she came home, discovered the fire and tripped near the sidewalk.
Nov. 12
-The local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter moved forward with plans to sell its building at 411 Vine St. to a pair of Hudson chiropractors and a massage school located in Washington County, Minn. The Center for the Healing Arts would occupy the lower part of the building and a chiropractic office of Drs. Terrance Wallace and Scott Miller, the upper part. The chiropractors currently operate at 120 Second St.-The rise in popularity of methamphetamine in St. Croix County was the subject of a much-talked-about article on the front page of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. It cited several local sources, most of them from New Richmond, which appears to be the place where there is the most "meth" activity. Court records showed numerous cases of possession, distribution and manufacture of this "rural crack" in the county in 1998.
Nov. 19
-St. Croix County Sheriff Paul Burch died of an apparent heart attack just two weeks after winning election over second-time challenger Tom Belongia. Hundreds of people, including more than 275 law enforcement officers from various departments attended his funeral, which was moved to St. Anne Catholic Church in Somerset because more space was required.-Gov. Tommy Thompson appointed Ronald Volkert, who had been chief deputy of the department, as interim sheriff. He will serve the remainder of the term of the late Sheriff Burch, which ends Jan. 3, 1999. Applications were received for the next term through Dec. 16, and Belongia was one of the people who applied.
Nov. 26
-Rev. James Kinney was getting used to life as a Roman Catholic priest after going through seminary school - and an annulment of his former marriage. While men with annulled marriages are allowed to become priests under church law, they are carefully scrutinized before entering into another vocation, he said. Kinney had been a business executive making $180,000 a year before he left for the priesthood.-Cory Heaton, 10, was critically injured in a fall at Willow River Elementary School, but was showing strong signs of improvement. A school custodian found Heaton, a fourth-grader, lying at the bottom of a stairwell at about 2:30 p.m. He had suffered head injuries.
DECEMBER
Dec. 3
-A longtime legal battle has been settled out of court between Nor-Lake Inc. and several neighbors regarding the condition of ground water and charges that Nor-Lake was at least partly responsible for contaminating it. Terms of the agreement were kept confidential, and because of the settlement, Judge Eric Wahl signed an order of dismissal on Nov. 12. Nor-Lake President DuWayne Bakke said all ground water claims against the company are now settled.-An open house for Willis Miller's 80th birthday was held at the Star-Observer offices. Miller, publisher emeritus of the newspaper, has been associated with its production in various capacities for 60 years. -The Hudson City Council approved a 1999 general fund balance that increases spending just 1.1 percent from this year's level. The city's mill rate will drop for at least the fourth year in a row, and the tax rate will be $7.52 per $1,000 of assessed property valuation.
Dec. 10
-All three school referendum questions on the Hudson ballot passed. They were the purchase of property in the town of Troy, which had met with some opposition, a new swimming pool and refinancing of debt. The first question passed by 251 votes, the second by 415 and the third by 1,319.-Officials were notified that the city of Hudson could expect as much as $7 million a year from the Four Feathers partnership if the city would throw its support toward a casino at the dog track. The city's tax levy is only around $3 million. Members of other community groups also said they were approached on the casino lobbyists' whirlwind tour of Hudson. -North Hudson's Plan Commission gained a new makeup after advice from the state Justice Department that recent appointments made by the board were not proper. Procedure calls for the village president to make nominations and the board of trustees to vote on these names. The board had tried to override the procedure and make its own nominations.
Dec. 17
-The County Board refused to hear a presentation by spokespersons from the Four Feathers partnership regarding their plan to offer the county money if it would support a casino. The St. Croix Economic Development Corp. already had turned down a $250,000 offer and a similar group from New Richmond a $100,000 offer.-The First National Bank of Hudson began working on the notorious Y2K computer bug in early 1997 and now appears more than ready to face the glitch that has everyone talking. Bank President Ken Heiser said the banking industry, in general, is prepared to face the millenium change. -At least one article of impeachment against President Clinton will pass the House of Representatives, Congressman Ron Kind predicted. He said the other three articles are backed by only scant evidence. He called independent counsel Ken Starr's report "one-sided."
Dec. 24
-NSP officials claim that a new power line proposed near St. Croix Falls is necessary to maintain electricity to areas of northern Wisconsin when there is an equipment failure. Environmentalists oppose the line crossing the St. Croix River.-Casino proponent Morris Andrews and opponent Nancy Bieraugel gave their arguments for and against a casino at St. Croix Meadows Greyhound Racing Park. Andrews said latest polls show 60 percent support in St. Croix County. Bieraugel said she has never had a constituent call in support of a casino. -Wisconsin Supreme Court Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson was in Hudson attending a legal seminar at the St. Croix County Government Center. -An air quality problem has surfaced at the city Municipal Building that houses the library (911 Fourth St.). A leaky roof, that has since been fixed, may be the source of the problem. The city will install new carpeting and clean other areas of the building.
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