County prelim levy up by 6.4%
Chisago County commissioners unanimously supported a levy for 2027 at a maximum sum of $55,264,483. This local levy will support expenditures of $104,400, 976. The adopted max is up from 2026 by some 6.4 percent.
Lindstrom early levy up by 4.9 percent
Lindstrom City Council met September 16 for a regular meeting. Council member Greg Krueger and Brian Norelius attended virtually.
Shafer discusses permit on lot with potential buyer
Shafer City council met September 15 for a regular meeting. Council member Nick Brehm was absent.
North Branch advances stripped down version of NW Old Town
The full North Branch City Council has kept the preliminary levy hike for 2027 at less than double digits— but the hope expressed is there can still be reductions found. The final levy needs to be adopted in December. At the nine percent hike currently, Mayor Kevin Schieber observed during …
And that’s a wrap on festivals
I had the pleasure of attending Shafer Days and Almelund’s Apple Festival this weekend. They are two of the final summer celebrations and they didn’t disappoint.
Man sentenced in Wyoming assault
District Court Judge Trevino sentenced James Alan Johnson Monday this week for first degree premeditated attempted murder. Johnson, 73, seriously injured his wife with a hammer and a delivery truck driver intervened in the assault. The incident happened in the Heims Lake neighborhood May 11. The driver secured the weapon …
Law Enforcement
One deer was the cause of a multiple vehicle accident on Stark Road at Balsam Avenue in Fish Lake Township last week about 5:45 a.m. Authorities were told a deer was hit by vehicle number one, and the damaged car driver stopped on the roadway to get out and look …
Dressin' up for Shafer Days!
Shafer Days 2026 didn’t let some blustery weather stop the fun. People came out to enjoy the celebration and of course the parade.
Julie Vick
Julie Ann Vick (née Remackel), age 63, of Chisago City, Minnesota, went into the loving embrace of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 12, 2026.
Mary Schmitz
Mary Alice (née Nelson) Schmitz passed away on the evening of August 31 at the age of 97. Her last weekend was spent surrounded by family and celebrating her husband of 76 years, Dale "Buster" Schmitz.
Jane St. Onge
Jane Corinne St. Onge, age 80, of Lindstrom, Minnesota, passed away on Friday morning, after a long and tender goodbye shaped by the slow unraveling of Alzheimer’s disease.
Simley keeps Wildcats winless with 42-23 win
After two long drives by the Wildcat football team ate up most of the first half, the Wildcats led 10-7 at the half against the Simley Spartans. But Simley’s pass-happy offense exploded for 34 points in the second half and the Spartans beat the Wildcats 42-23 Friday, September 18 at …
Cloquet clobbers North Branch, Vikes move to 0-3
North Branch struggled to slow down Cloquet’s big-play rushing attack Friday night, as the Vikings fell 35-8 on the road Sept. 18.
Vikes topple Wildcats in tennis, but then CL bounces back with two sweeps
North Branch used a strong performance in singles to knock off rival Chisago Lakes in a girls tennis matchup Tuesday, Sept. 15.
Annika Hall, meet Annika Hall
There was a little extra reason for one Byron cross country coach to cheer on Chisago Lakes at the Roy Griak Invitational on Saturday, Sept. 19.
Julie Vick
Julie Ann Vick (née Remackel), age 63, of Chisago City, Minnesota, went into the loving embrace of her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on September 12, 2026.
County board denies expanded uses at Hay Days site
In a rare move, September 16, the Chisago County Board unanimously turned a recommended permit approval from the planning commission, on its head— and voted 5-0 to deny the SnoBarons snowmobile club request to intensify use of their Hay Days Motorsports event grounds. The planning commission had recommended approval 4-3 …
