Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
Local federal charges filed against male who cyberstalked North Branch High School students
An indictment announced by the U.S. Attorney Daniel Rosen has local connections; and investigators are asking for North Branch High School students who may have encountered suspicious on-line behavior to get in touch with federal authorities. There is an FBI tipline at 1-800-225-5324.
NEWS
Taylors Falls acts on fees, names Steward awardee
The full Taylors Falls City Council met to organize for the year on Monday night this week and fees were addressed for the first time in a few years. The increases reflect actual costs better, and staff said a couple fees needed to be eliminated for being obsolete or covered by another revenue source. The full listing is available at city hall. Fees range from the new $10 license (was $5) to hunt deer in city limits to hundreds of dollars for land use permits.
NEWS
Highway 95 projects set for this summer
The Chisago County Board signed off on an agreement with the state January 6, finalizing cost-sharing for a spring 2026 project to re-align Pleasant Valley Road at Highway 95 in Franconia Township.
SCHOOLS
CL school board holds first meeting of year
The Chisago Lakes School Board organized for the year 2026 in a special meeting January 5 lasting about 40 minutes. Board pay was unrevised for 2026, and the officials remain the same: Lori Berg is chair, Jeff Lindeman is vice chair.
SCHOOLS
North Branch alum celebrated for donating; and voices support of personal finance course
After spending some time with Max Malmquist at the North Branch School Board meeting last week it was pretty apparent that in his 85 years on earth— there has been no room for complacency. The School Board meeting agenda included discussion about implementing the upcoming high school graduation requirement for Minnesota pupils to obtain a half-credit in personal finance. It isn’t effective until 2028, but North Branch is looking to implement the course a year sooner.
NEWS
2025: YEAR IN REVIEW
It is always impressive looking back over the previous year’s news — the extent of what was accomplished in the local community and how so many people managed to do remarkable things...
NEWS
Greene chosen to Chair County Board, noise walls rejected for Highway 8 project
County Commissioner Rick Greene was voted-in by his fellow commissioners as 2026 chairman, in the annual organizational meeting held Tuesday this week. Greene mentioned that this could be a ‘challenging’ year as grassroots governing units like county boards, seem to get saddled with the costs and responsibility of carrying out mandated functions that state and federal elected officials shun.
NEWS
East Central Energy basic service fee increase in effect, seat on Board open for this area
East Central Energy cooperative is now taking applications for a seat on the Board of Directors representing the Chisago County area. (See map.) Residents of North Branch were recently brought into the ECE service territory when the city sold its municipal electric assets to ECE. There are three districts with expiring terms across the cooperative area. Candidates will be voted on later this spring by mail-in ballot which are sent out in March. The Districts are 1, 3 (Chisago) and 6 and terms are four years.
NEWS
Commissioners weigh in on sound walls
The Chisago County Board will be expected to weigh in on locations and heights of proposed noise barriers to be included alongside the Highway 8 project; but the Board lacked sufficient information to make that vote last week.
NEWS