Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
Wyoming renews license plate reader contract, OK’s site plan for fire hall
The Wyoming City Fire Hall alterations site plan came before the city council and won approval last week. The new footprint calls for a setback variance on the Felton Avenue side. The building will need minor additions and also will feature a hose drying tower, when the fire department takes over use of the whole structure, as city offices relocate south to the new city hall.
NEWS
County Board tackles data center moratorium and orders cleanup of property
The county commissioners unanimously declared a property in Rushseba Township to be a public health hazard and last week they ordered the process of cleanup to begin.
NEWS
Taylors Falls outlaws Flock devices for year; looking into city hall security measures
The Taylors Falls city council was confronted this week with the trifecta of hot topics—the reality of active shooter concerns, the controversy over Flock license plate reader use and persistent rumors over a potential data center in town.
NEWS
Municipal, school board filings close
The filing period for municipal offices and school board positions closed at the end of day July 28 and there appears to be great interest in a couple races, but mostly the election in November will be incumbents or possibly even write-in candidates.
NEWS
LAPD levy for next year kept just under 3% hike
Lakes Area Police Commission checked-off one of its to-do boxes last week when the 2027 budget was adopted. The budget numbers need to be accepted into the Chisago City and Lindstrom levy process; in time for proposed taxes to go to the county for preliminary 2027 tax statements this fall.
NEWS
Hazelden Betty Ford nursing strike resolved
The nurses working at the Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation campus in Center City, have settled with the organization, according to the Minnesota Nurses’Association. The Hazelden nurse staff voted to join the association in January 2025 and initiated an unfair labor practices strike this July 15. (Press photo July 23)
NEWS
Wyoming council to work with EDA on municipal building; lease fire storage space
The Wyoming municipal offices, fire hall remodel and associated expenses became much more real last week as the city council acted on lease revenue bonding for money to finance the work, and agreed to a lease with Hallberg storage for space to relocate the fire operations. Council also signed the construction management contract with Kraus Anderson.
NEWS
County-union still no closer to agreement
The county negotiating team and the Teamsters Local 320 union representatives did not come to any terms after a mediation session called late last week at the Bureau of Mediation Services.
NEWS
North Branch discusses ending leaf pick up
For nearly 30 years residents in North Branch have had their seasonal leaf debris vacuumed up in spring and fall. You rake the leaves into your property street-frontage and the city makes the leaves disappear.
NEWS