Denise Martin
Recent Stories
NEWS
Unexpected Company tuning up for adventure overseas; express your support and attend Valentine’s weekend fundraiser shows
This May a few dozen people are off to Scandinavia on a mission that’s been 40 years in-the-making. In 1984 a community adult choir came together in the Chisago Lakes Area organized by a former local high school instructor, Jim Iverson. And ever since then, the Unexpected Company Chorale has never wavered from its goal to be a welcoming place for those who love to sing and want to keep learning and refining their vocal skills. Decades ago as the original 20 or so chorale members set out on this endeavor, who could have predicted the group would develop into a diplomatic force.
SCHOOLS
State convention puts NB program front and center
Minnesota school board association members are gathering Jan 16 and 17 this week in Minneapolis, at the convention center— and this year North Branch is a featured district in the “Schools of Excellence” showcase. The district six area is represented on the MSBA Board of Directors by Heather Naegele, of North Branch.
NEWS
Old ‘OJ’ juice plant demo on-deck
A blighted property in Lindstrom is coming down. The old “OJ” juice factory demolition has been awarded to Carl Bolander and Sons. The property is under ownership of Prelude Holdings, its president Phil Dommer said demolition is expected to occur in early 2025.
SCHOOLS
Chisago Lakes Schools 2025 levy adopted, last year’s audit completed
There were no changes made to the spending and revenue numbers proposed for the 2025-2026 school year, as Chisago Lakes Board members adopted the budget and levy. The estimated increase for the levy that will be billed as property tax in 2025 is 1.6 percent. The local levy collected $11.3 million for this year and goes to about $11.5 million for pay 2025.
NEWS
US Capitol breach defendant OK’d to travel out of country
One of the defendants in the January 6, 2021 United States Capitol Breach case, Jonah Westbury of Lindstrom, was granted a revised condition of release by the federal judge overseeing his case. He has been on conditional release since his arrest in 2021.
NEWS
North Branch resident to be sentenced in March for causing girl's death
An incident in the area of Lakeside Memorial Park in Forest Lake last July, where a 17-year-old girl from Stacy died at the scene — has ended in a conviction of Dylan Simmons, 21, of North Branch. He was prosecuted on charges of operating the car that struck the victim.
NEWS
St. Croix Bridge public comment on EAW goes until December 26; project on track for 2027
Attendees at a public meeting last week held to gather input on the St. Croix River Osceola to MN bridge project, learned an estimated cost to replace the circa 1953 span is estimated from $30 to $45 million. The extremely complex undertaking is slowly making its way through environmental and “constructibility” review aiming to stay on track for a bridge closure in spring 2027 and a new bridge opening in fall 2028. Associated clean-up and related restoration tasks in and around the riverway would happen in 2029.
NEWS
Lake associations splitting last of recovery funds
With unanimous action last week in awarding nearly $92,000 to several county lake associations— the County Board zeroed out what remains of the American Recovery Program Act funding that had been dedicated to lake water quality.
NEWS
Wyoming City Council briefs..
The 2025 budget-setting for the City of Wyoming was pretty uneventful last week, with no questions arising during the public taxation hearing held by city council. One business owner questioned her property tax situation during an open forum, but she learned her concerns would be better addressed by the county assessor, who handles market valuation tasks.
NEWS