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So this week we have a couple of community icons who have earned a well-deserved retirement.  Its not often you have someone spend an entire career at one place but that makes it even more impressive.

Jill Behnke is retiring after 40 years of working as a Chisago County Sheriffs dispatcher. 40 years.  That is exactly 25 years longer than my most tenured job- this one. Jill has faithfully served our County in the department and as many of you know, she has also served as mayor of Center City, ran for County Board and served on countless boards and community organizations.  If anyone deserves to leave on their own terms it’s Jill. I have known Jill forever and she is one of the most wonderful people we have in this community.  Jill, I know you will be reading this, so from me and the rest of Chisago County please accept our deepest heartfelt congratulations. You are awesome and we are so lucky to have you.

Also, we have another law enforcement pillar that has decided to hang up his holster. Officer Brian Carlson is retiring after 14 years of serving the Chisago Lakes community as a Lakes Area Police Officer. You may not recognize the name, but you would recognize his face. Officer Carlson served many many years as the Chisago Lakes School deputy and was instrumental in teaching hundreds of kids as they graduated from the D.A.R.E. program.  

Officer Carlson has kept our children safe and the community for years. For that we say a great big Thank You. Thank you for putting community and safety first. You are appreciated. We hope your next chapter in life brings you happiness.

Our Sports Editor/ad sales person Jeff Norton and myself were lucky enough to get tickets to the Vikings game Sunday afternoon. Oh I can hear you already “poor Matt gets to go to a Vikings game”.  I guess, but including Sunday’s game I have been to exactly zero regular or playoff Viking games in my life.  And I have never stepped foot in the new stadium  

Wow is that place beautiful. Nothing like the dome and the dungeons of concrete we have all known for the last 30 years.  What a beautiful building that is. The game as you know was pretty much on the other end of the beautiful spectrum.  I don’t have enough euphonisms or space to explain the game. We were chuckling after the game how it must have been easy to spot the guy who was visiting his first Vikings game because I was happy. Happy just having the experience and a good time.

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