Winter getaway
While some people dream of moving south to escape Wisconsin winters, a few souls set up second homes on the lakes.
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Half of alcohol sellers fail latest compliance check
A 50-percent compliance rate in the latest round of retailer checks proves underage access to alcohol continues to be a problem in Barron County.
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Free dental care provided to kids in need
Dr. William Shea and staff at Midwest Dental in Chetek will provide free dental care to underprivileged children Friday as part of the annual Give Kids a Smile Day, sponsored by the American Dental Association.
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Sheriff:do not store valuables in ice shacks
Pokegama Lake has been the site of several ice-shack break-ins in recent weeks. Authorities remind fishermen to leave their valuables at home.
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Nutrition show comes to Roselawn Elementary School
Rockstar Nutritionist Jill Jayne will perform a live nutrition rock concert, Jump with Jill, at Roselawn Elementary School in Chetek. This interactive show teaches nutrition through music and movement.
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Just my size
Justin Lenz, 4, pulled this 32-inch northern out of the lake on his own Jan. 16 while fishing with father Jeremy on Potato Lake near Chetek.
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Speeding tickets not a money-making matter
 Motorists who took home speeding tickets in 2009 might wonder whether Chetek police are giving out fines to fatten their coffers.
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New police radios to be operational in February
Barron County's multimillion-dollar digital radio investment pays off next month when the new digital communications system is completed.
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Tax due date, lottery credit
The deadline for Barron County residents to pay their taxes is coming up soon.
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Hwy. 53 to get $17 million in improvements
As part of national efforts to create jobs and provide immediate economic benefits to Wisconsin and the country, Gov. Jim Doyle has signed a $17 million contract to improve 12 miles of Hwy. 53 between New Auburn and Spooner.
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Business climate in county echoes statewide trends
Barron County's Economic Development director is cautiously optimistic that the economic tides could be turning.
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Stable taxes in unstable times
What would it take to stop Barron County property taxes from rising? That was the question Thursday as executive committee members began pondering ways to cut costs-or raise revenues-in the coming year.
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Young fun
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Homeless in Barron County
Anecdotally, homelessness appears to be on the rise in Barron County, but statistically the county had more homeless families in 2008.
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Police department loses lieutenant, promotes investigator
A new lieutenant, investigator and full-time patrol officer will be stepping up at the Chetek Police Department, the police commission announced Tuesday.
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Two teachers to retire from Chetek schools
The retirement of two staff members and the hiring of two others in different capacities will be among agenda items at the next Chetek School Board meeting.
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Public hearings for runoff pollution proposals
Proposals to further reduce runoff pollution are the topic of public hearings statewide in late January and February. The updates are aimed at reducing toxic blue-green algae blooms, fish kills, contaminated wells and other problems fueled by pollutants running off urban areas and farm fields and entering Wisconsin lakes, rivers and groundwater.
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Conservation focus of home show seminars
The Cameron High School will house Heart of the North Builders Association's eighth annual home show this weekend.
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New Barron County administrator chosen
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Barron County Board Chairman Jess Miller, left, announced the board’s decision to make Finance Director and interim Administrator Jeff French, right, the permanent administrator.
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Jeff French is no longer Barron County's interim administrator. After six months of planning, weeding out applicants and deliberating, the Barron County Board of Supervisors chose to promote French to administrator at their Monday night meeting.
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Cocktails for a cause
On a whim, a local cocktail-a-month club, an informal group that samples fresh concoctions each month at Gilligans, decided to pass the hat for a cause.
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2010 Census needs takers
It was 2 p.m. Thursday, and the tables in Room 110 were crowded with coat-clad test-takers.
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Little change in candidacy
The Jan. 5 deadline brought little change to the lineup of Barron County supervisor candidates for the April 6 election.
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Government center use to be regulated
The Barron County Government Center's doors have always been wide open, which has some county officials questioning the security of the building.
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Chamber seeks businesses for Winter Fest poker run
The Chetek Chamber of Commerce is looking for businesses to be a stop for participants in the Winter Fest Poker Run.
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All in the family
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Chetek has second-highest foreclosure rate in county
Foreclosure rates are high in Chetek right now, but one local realtor isn't daunted by dark statistics.
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Kennelly drops run for mayor
A 1st-ward resident who intended to challenge Chetek Mayor Dianne Knowlton in the spring election has changed his mind.
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Bright beginnings spread throughout Wisconsin
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Christa Schommer’s Bright Beginnings class told their classmates which letter they found, what sound it makes and one word that starts with that letter. Pictured is Tyler Kleinhans while Loryn Osgood waits her turn to talk.
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Eighty percent of Wisconsin school districts are now offering 4-year-old kindergarten, something the School District of Chetek has offered for eight years.
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Final numbers: home water up 54 percent
Beginning in January, residential water rates in the City of Chetek will increase by 54 percent.
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Resort, chamber "Visitors Guide" ready for distribution
The newly published 2010 Visitors Guide, distributed annually by the Chetek Resort Owners' Association and Chetek Chamber of Commerce in a joint effort to promote tourism in our community, is now available at The Chetek Alert.
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Chetek weather facts for a cold snap
Forecasters predict the cold snap currently freezing much of the country will last through the weekend. This week's forecast for Chetek tops out at 15 degrees, with below-zero lows for most nights.
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