City votes to extend authority to township growth area

Written in the Lindstrom City Comprehensive Plan, adopted in 2017, it is contemplated that areas adjacent to the city will eventually become part of Lindstrom.  It is referred to as the growth area. Friday, December 6, 2019

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Chisago City tax rate dips for 2020

Chisago City will decrease its tax rate by two percent in 2020 based on the final levy and budget approved by the city council Nov. 26. Council members voted unanimously to approve a final levy of $2,776,808 for the city as a whole with an additional sewer plant levy of $45,000 applied to the older portion of the city that doesn’t have individual septic systems. Friday, December 6, 2019

CL Primary School donates to food shelf

The Chisago Lakes Primary held its annual Christmas food drive, when students are encouraged to bring in non-perishable food items for the local Family Pathways Food Shelf.  The school raised 587 pounds of food. The Chisago Lakes Lions Club hauled the items to the food shelf. Friday, December 6, 2019

Television host, doc-filmmaker credits growing up in Chisago County as motivating, inspiring

JJ Kelley is a storyteller;   on film, videotape, television, speaking at cinema  festivals and in print. He has been nominated for an Emmy, and documentaries are worthy classics in the environmental field.   His curiosity about the natural world has guided his projects ever since he was rambling around wild places in Chisago County. Friday, December 6, 2019

So much to do in our little area, a chance to help a firefighter

How great was the Taylors Falls Lighting Festival last weekend?  If you remember last year it was a total downpour for the entire parade.  This year, the temps were good and droves of people came out. Nice job to all who put on the festival! Friday, December 6, 2019

No more pie, cake please!

Now that the Thanksgiving holiday is over, perhaps you’ve had enough of the different kinds of pies served. I decided to look in my “cake file” and found different kinds of cakes you might like to try. Something that is different from chocolate, white or yellow cake. Perhaps you’ve made one of these cakes before. Make one again. Friday, December 6, 2019

'Tribe' of lifelong friends gathers in expression of gratitude for love and friendship

The Roman statesman and orator Cicero said, “Friendship improves happiness and abates misery, by the doubling of our joy and the dividing of our grief.” Friday, November 29, 2019

30th Royal Lady is embodiment of caring

When the 2019 Taylors Falls Royal Lady Carol Schumann was growing up in Windom MN with her multiple brothers;  she says there were always lots of people around the family table.  As the only girl she took on the hostess role:  which meant having baked goods on hand and embodying the philosophy of sharing what the family had with others.  Friday, November 29, 2019

Several hours-long ditch hearing makes progress

The Chisago County commissioners have begun to tackle a unique area of county government that county engineers have consistently bemoaned, saying it needs attention.  The formal system for monitoring Chisago County ditches, and inspecting or updating rolls of benefiting properties assessed for ditches, has been pretty non-existent for decades.  County Commissioners, meeting last week as the county Ditch Authority, acknowledged they were dealing with records that were last scrutinized maybe 100 years ago. Friday, November 29, 2019

"Shrek" puts on a show at Chisago Lakes

The Chisago  Lakes students performed ‘Shrek The Musical’ over the weekend.  Crowds were treated to singing, dancing and a lot of laughing. The musical had four sold-out shows at the Performing Arts Center at the high school. Friday, November 29, 2019

Lindstrom Council halts 306th project; columbarium gets green light

The final engineering on  improvements in the area of 306th in Lindstrom (top of the South Lindstrom Lake bay) did not move forward, as city council members last week failed to approve the next step.  The engineering “feasibility” study was accepted earlier this fall. Friday, November 29, 2019

Wyoming approves large street project

The Wyoming City Council approved a large 2020 street reconstruction project at the Tuesday, November 19 meeting. Friday, November 29, 2019

Shafer City Council agrees on utility mower purchase, discusses solar lights

Shafer City Council met November 19 for a regular meeting. All were present with the exception of city attorney James Monge. Friday, November 29, 2019

Flavorful turkey leftover hot dishes

As usual, it’s about leftover turkey recipes today. In the shape of hot dishes. Some say casseroles, I say hot dishes! Today’s recipes are using a lot of the same ingredients, but in different combinations. You can prepare some of them ahead of time, refrigerate or freeze them until ready to put in the oven, and have a full meal to enjoy in a short amount of time. Be sure to add extra baking time if refrigerated. To thaw, if frozen, take hot dish from freezer to fridge early in the day or over night to thaw slowly. DO NOT set on the counter to thaw Friday, November 29, 2019

North Branch updates logo

The City of North Branch has officially adopted a logo to symbolize the city’s identity as it grows into the future. The logo got the city council okay November 26.  The design was over a nine-month effort of community meetings and Keech Media guidance. It involved community members who met monthly and discussed the theme the logo should invoke, and layout, font and colors to represent North Branch.  The former logo featured mainly a pine tree, with a ribbon horizontally in the space. Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Taylors Falls invites you to the one-of-a-kind Lighting Festival

This is my one of my favorite holidays of the year.  Think about it, you get to see all of your family in a very relaxed atmosphere without the pressure of buying gifts and you are expected to gorge yourself on the best food in the world.  “Hi Matt, great to see you, have some food!” Sign me up.  Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Lindstrom's American Legion Auxilary Unit 83 celebrates Centennial

November 10, 2019, The American Legion Auxiliary (ALA) turned 100 and the American Legion Auxiliary Unit 83 in Lindstrom is celebrating. Thursday, November 21, 2019

Area employers come through and participate in CLHS learning program

The Chisago Lakes High School Work Based Learning Program is only a couple of years old but it’s gaining a reputation among the local business community and growing.  The high school this week celebrated four of the 18 sites that are now in the program.  There were refreshments and a certificate presentation to the firms and participating students. Thursday, November 21, 2019

Taylors Falls, county put trailhead out for bids

The Swedish Immigrant Regional Trailhead, alongside of the Taylors Falls City offices and fire hall, is going out for bids.  Both the city council and County Board have approved advertising for bids for the segment of the trail from its current end point west of Taylors Falls, to the city hall. Thursday, November 21, 2019

Chisago City passes amended solar energy ordinance, moratorium ends

After months of debate, the Chisago City Council on Nov. 12, passed a resolution for a new, and more stringent, solar energy ordinance as part of the city’s zoning code. Thursday, November 21, 2019

New LAPD facility sites are under review

The Lakes Area Police Commission last week directed Chief of Police Bill Schlumbohm  and Chisago City and Lindstrom officials to expand on potential plans for two sites for a new LAPD facility. Two locations have been coming to the fore in the search for a new Lakes Area headquarters. Chisago City already owns both. One is the undeveloped land at the public works and Fire Hall site off Karmel, north of Hwy 8 and the other is near Mattson Lake, west of the four way stop of the Stacy-Lofton roads, again north of Hwy 8. Thursday, November 21, 2019

Stacy Council agrees to solar contract

Stacy city council met November 12 for a regular meeting.  All members were present.  Thursday, November 21, 2019

Meals that can be prepared quickly

This time of year with holidays just ahead of us, it’s good to have meals that can be prepared quickly or by using one-dish. I like the one-dish deal as there are less dishes to clean up easily. There aren’t any kids living at home anymore so it’s up to me to do the clean up. Today it’s about quick and one-dish meals. Thursday, November 21, 2019

Shrek is coming to Chisago Lakes!

The Chisago Lakes Fall Musical is SHREK.  It runs at the Performing Arts Center at the high school in Lindstrom Nov. 21, 22, 23 and 24.  Saturday and Sunday are 2 p.m. showtimes.  Thursday and Friday evening shows are at 7 p.m.   The cast traveled to the Primary School in Chisago City to do a few scenes to promote the show and high-fived students as the special program ended.   Thursday, November 14, 2019

Ditch hearings Tues. Nov. 19 part of busy week for Board

The county commissioners have a very busy week ahead of Thanksgiving;  with a special session Monday, Nov. 18 to discuss the emergency radio subscription contracts and fees to be finalized for 2020, plus their regular meeting is Wednesday, Nov. 20 and sandwiched in the middle are hearings starting early, Tuesday, November 19 for the re-establishment of County Ditches 1, 2 and 3. Thursday, November 14, 2019

Board votes 4-1 to make auditor-treasurer appointed

The voters of Chisago County could be losing one more county official that they used to elect. The county auditor-treasurer  will become an appointee of the Board, on a 4-1 commissioner vote last week setting the transition into motion.  At one time assessor was an elected position, the county recorder was an elected position and these two were made appointees.  Now the auditor-treasurer position held by Dennis Freed, is on its way to being appointed. Thursday, November 14, 2019