Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
Watershed District annual meeting honors township
The highlight of the annual Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District meeting at the Forest Lake American Legion Post, was the awarding of Champions of the District honors.
NEWS
Federal shutdown being monitored; children’s aid a main concern
Social services and health care for youth required some of the County Board’s time last week as contracts and planning for some innovative programs came to the commissioners’ attention.
NEWS
Chisago City events Falloween and haunted trail re-imagined this year
With about two decades of Halloween season community events under their belt— the Chisago City Parks Board, city staff and volunteers have decided now is a good time for giving a total reboot to the October community events.
LAW ENFORCEMENT
Warner sentenced to over 20 years on three cold cases
A 46-year-old area man was sentenced this week by District Court Judge Catherine Trevino. Donald Edmond Warner, most recently of Lindstrom and North Branch, will serve over 20 years in prison for first degree, and two attempted, sexual assaults on young women.
NEWS
Watershed District 2026 preliminary levy set
The managers on the Comfort Lake-Forest Lake Watershed District Board voted 5-0 last week to set a preliminary levy hike for 2026 of 23 percent. There were about a half-dozen taxpayers attending this meeting in Forest Lake. An additional levy session will be scheduled for October to continue public input and Board discussions.
SCHOOLS
Soup with the Superintendent puts spotlight on array of testing
A group of about a dozen visitors to last week’s Soup with the Superintendent program, at Lindstrom’s Wildcat Community Center were reminded of when they were attending school and the dreaded pop quiz came from out of nowhere. To be sure, no grades were riding on the outcome of this but there was obvious anxiety exhibited among lunch program attendees.
NEWS
Taylors Falls Council votes in favor of 14 percent levy increase
The main item on the council agenda last week in Taylors Falls was action adopting a preliminary maximum levy for 2026 and the budget plan. Council voted 5-0 for the proposed 14 percent increase and scheduled the taxation public hearing for November 24 at 6 p.m. at city hall.
NEWS
County keeping levy hike under 5 percent
There were differing opinions among County Board members about when exactly the optimal time was to cut back next year’s budget, so the levy and budget were adopted on a 3-2 vote. Commissioners Montzka and Dunne were ready to enact a minimal levy hike now, which is down about two percent from what’s been developed in work sessions. The rest of the Board said they’ll vote for a reduced increase in December.
NEWS
Wyoming sets max levy at 8 percent
A maximum levy and budget for 2026 was adopted on a 4-1 vote by the Wyoming City Council last week. Linda Nanko Yeager voted no without comment. The public discussion about finalizing Wyoming budget details takes place December 2, at city hall. at 7 p.m. and the sums adopted last week may be decreased but legally can not be increased.
NEWS