LOCAL
St. Patrick's Day awareness raised by DPS
The Office of Traffic Safety with the Minnesota Department of Public Safety held a press gathering to highlight their message to “have a plan” when you are going to be partying and need transportation.
St. Bridget serves the whole gang for Lent
The annual Lenten season fish fry at St. Bridget Catholic Church in Lindstrom started last Friday and runs Fridays to April 11. The fish meals (or spaghetti without meat for the kids) will be available to-go or at the dining hall. This crew was ready to rock the to-go orders …
Taylors Falls takes a look at capital projects, again
With the pre-bid meeting scheduled for the end of this week, Taylors Falls City Council again took up discussing the city hall-fire hall new roof and exterior repairs and maintenance projects.
SWCD is relocating; state considering boost in funding
The Chisago County Soil and Water Conservation District offices were planning to relocate this week to the mall, on the west side of the freeway in North Branch. The new address is Suite 206.
Center City Council gets updates on burnt building, auto-pay, ironworks relocation
Center City Council met March 4 for a regular meeting. All members were present with council member Lloyd Vetter joining virtually.
Shafer charitable gaming permits in flux; Saloon pulltabs put on hold
Shafer City Council held a regular meeting March 4. All members were present. The meeting began by hearing from Matt McKenzie of the Shafer Fire and Rescue Relief Association. McKenzie is the gambling manager for the association and he was there to discuss Shafer Saloon.
North Branch OK’d for drones
The North Branch Police Department is on its way to incorporating drones, or unmanned aerial devices into its operations. The city council gave Police Chief Dan Meyer the okay last week to proceed on crafting a drone policy and to collect public input and comment.
Expect roadwork on North Shore Trail & Highway 97
The Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District managers got an early update about a major road project that affects commuters who use Itasca Avenue south from Chisago City, and head into the metro area off of North Shore Trail in Forest Lake. This alternative route is a favorite when looking to …
Volunteers still building hope within El Salvador
After four years of waiting, Habitat for Humanity International has finally reopened its Global Village program and a team including eight residents of Chisago County, went to El Salvador to help build houses.
Chisago City Fire annual report
Fire Chief Zach Reed present ed his annual report. The all-volunteer fire department started 2024 with 19 members, six short of full staffing of 25 firefighters. Jeff Hofmeister retired in April 2024. Reed said that for now staffing continues to be adequate with six to eight members responding to daytime …
Chisago City seeks bids to extend Old Towne Road trail, chips in $35,000 to upsize gas line
The full Chisago City Council Feb. 25 worked its way through an inch-thick stack of agenda documents. These ranged from revised personnel policies and lawn mowing contracts, to a new massage therapy ordinance, a gas franchise fee dilemma, and time-sensitive plans and advertising for bids for the Old Towne Road …
Fishing for recipes during Lent
This will be a hard column for me to write. There’s very rarely a dinner I make that doesn’t have a meat featured, as most of you are probably similar.
Man charged in serious Stacy crash September 2024 ordered held in treatment facility
The suspect in a two vehicle crash, in Stacy last fall, that injured several people and sent a child to the hospital with life threatening injuries, has been placed under commitment through the courts.
Law Enforcement
Fish house broken into and a vehicle and suspect description were provided to sheriff patrol on East Rush Lake. Theft charges being pursued.
