Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
County Board will record meetings, minus open mic
The meetings of the Chisago County Board will be recorded and likely available on the county website in archive materials. The county commissioners have treaded very deliberately on recording meetings in numerous discussions over the last few years, and as about 50 percent of Minnesota counties moved ahead creating recorded databases, Chisago remained reluctant.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Cartel connection with area man facing sentencing
A Chisago County man is among several drug traffickers being prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney in connection with arrests tied to methamphetamine and illegal narcotics networks connected to the Mexican Sinaloa Cartel.
NEWS
State will move drivers’ test from Lindstrom to Chisago City in 2027; Kendall Howard seeks $1.7 million subsidy to expand
Discussion of the proposed location of the Lakes Area Police Department headquarters was not on the agenda but, nevertheless, played a part in Chisago City’s Feb. 24 council meeting.
NEWS
Design services OK’d for Old Town
The North Branch Northwest Old Town area projects— that have been on and off the work plan for over 20 years; and recently put on the back burner again, will see some more research done and a couple property owner meetings will be held in coming weeks.
NEWS
Joint sewage treatment officials looking to reduce chloride in discharge
The Chisago Lakes Joint Sewage Treatment Commission discussed the chloride limits contained in its treatment plant permit last week in light of data that exceeded the allowed amount— before fines began to be imposed.
North Branch leads permit activity, Wyoming in second
New construction activity in Chisago County in 2025 came to well over 2,000 permits issued from the county alone, with another several hundred from North Branch and Wyoming— which provide their own municipal building permitting and inspection services.
NEWS
Facade grant OK’d for North Branch business
If you notice some building improvement work happening at the former taxidermy business site on main street in North Branch, it’s all part of the facade grants the city offers businesses in the core. The program was begun with $75,000 and the structure at 6354 Main Street is the third project to have received some funding.
NEWS
Remodel projects awarded for ISD 138
The plans to free-up classroom space for growing enrollment in Sunrise Elementary School, by relocating first graders to the education center facility, are closer to reality.
NEWS
North Branch seeks percentage of charitable gaming for parks, rec
The first meeting of North Branch Council on their new night and time, (second and fourth Wednesday at 6 p.m.) was called to order last week by the vice mayor, Robert Canada with Mayor Kevin Schieber absent.
NEWS