Chisago County Press

“We have to come back out. That’s our only option.”

CL superintendent Brian Dietz gave a postmortem on the district’s failed referendum at the monthly meeting

In a short school board meeting before the last holiday break of the school year, the Chisago Lakes School District addressed their failed referendum from earlier this month.

Helberg cruising through sections

Wyatt Helberg was a near lock to win the top singles spot each match this year for the North Branch boys tennis team, and now that play has moved into the postseason, the sophomore has continued to roll.

‘Cats make deep run, but fall to Elks

The fourth seeded Chisago Lakes boys tennis team got all the way to the final four of the Section 7AA bracket, but fell short against the top seeded Elk River Elks with a chance to go to the section championship game on the line.

One more round for rhubarb season

Rhubarb is always a column topic that’s deserving of two weeks. There are a lot of recipes out there, and they are in season in a unique time when most everything else is just starting to take hold.

Both doubles team for CL upset at different stages of section tourney

Seeding the doubles tournament in section tennis play is always an exercise in futility. There’s always plenty of mixing and matching between regular singles players and doubles players and finding the best combo to go the deepest.

Rhubarb is back and better than ever

It’s rhubarb season! The colorful vegetable (yes, it is a vegetable, not a fruit) is aplenty this year, and it goes into some phenomenal recipes.

Girls wrap up M8C crown with lopsided win over Magic

Monticello has been a thorn in Chisago Lakes’ side for the last years. Even though the ‘Cats have traditionally beaten Monticello, they’ve always gave them a tough test and made them work to earn a conference title.

Hanson helps corral 1st place for Wildcats

Senior Brett Hanson came away as meet medalist last week on Thursday, May 8 during the Mississippi 8 Conference meet at Chisago Lakes Golf Course.

North Branch upsets St. Francis 3-2

The North Branch baseball team got three runs in the third inning, and it held up against the 10-5 St. Francis Saints on Friday, May 9.

NB girls fall short in true team

The Section 7AA True Team meet turned into a duel between North Branch and Chisago Lakes on the girls side, and although the Wildcats came out on top by about 30 points, the Vikings had some great performances.

Let’s put together a pic-a-nic basket

I know I missed some Mother’s Day themed recipes last week with the tough column I had to write, but it doesn’t mean I can’t mix a few things that are good for more than just Mother’s Day into this week’s column.

Boys lacrosse team downed by two top squads; bests Big Lake

Despite a valiant comeback attempt in the fourth quarter, the Wildcats dropped their first game of the week, a 10-8 decision to Rogers on Tuesday, April 29.

Rest in peace to my friend

I’ve lost many people close to me the last few years but I always felt like I had the chance to say goodbye. To prepare for the moment. To be at peace. This past weekend was so, so different.

CL girls lax team finally runs into a loss

After four straight blowouts to start the season, the Chisago Lakes girls lacrosse team was handed their first loss of the year in a 12-11 thriller against St. Croix Prep.

Wildcats split two razor tight games

The Chisago Lakes boys lacrosse team played in two games last week that were decided by one goal and that came out on both ends of the spectrum in the contests.

Vikes conquer Thunder on suicide squeeze attempt

North Branch’s baseball team kicked off last week with an extra innings win over the Zimmerman Thunder on Monday, April 21, but a tough matchup against Princeton followed, and a rain out against Monticello kept them at 1-1 for the week.

NB rebounds from slow start with three straight wins

The North Branch softball team started the year in a tough stretch, going 1-7 with their only win against an out-of-state team from Wisconsin.

Celebrate May 5 in Mexican style!

It’s Cinco de Mayo coming up early next week, and if you’re one of those who likes to get in the spirit of all of the holidays, this column will be for you.

Boys rebound from opening loss

Lax team scores five fourth quarter goals to beat Becker 15-11 in come from behind fashion

The season didn’t start off how the Chisago Lakes boys lacrosse team was hoping, as they dropped a 12-2 loss to Farmington, but they bounced back for a big Mississippi 8 Conference win over Becker last week to get back to even on the year.

Realizing the error of my ways

Life is all about trying new things, and that is never more obvious than in food. There are so many things that I thought I didn’t like as a kid, and it was either because one time I had something with a similar ingredient I didn’t like, or the simple fact that I thought things sounded gross before ever trying them (sour cream, cottage cheese, I’m looking at you!)

Happy Easter from the Norton’s!

Aly is taking the reins on Easter this year, as we’ll be hosting my family for the Sunday holiday. I asked her if she wanted to be featured in this week’s column, and she reluctantly agreed, so here’s two of the Easter recipes we’ll have this year, courtesy of my wonderful wife, Aly!

Goodbye Alice, I’m sure going to miss you

Last week, the longtime author of this column Alice Nelson passed away, and although I didn’t see her as much as I used to, I am going to miss her beaming smile, friendly personality and her witty wisecracks.

Elite meet in Mankato features nice performances

The first track and field meet of the year, the Minnesota State University-Mankato Varsity Showcase, was held on Saturday, March 29 on the Mankato campus, and there were some nice performances from area athletes, even though some of the events are non-traditional distances.

Prepping for the warm season veggies

It’s time to start thinking about planting your warm season veggies if you start them from seeds inside before bringing them outside in May.

Bravo to the FACS class at Chisago Lakes

I just want to give a shout out to all of the kids in Ms. Koeppel’s Family and Consumer Science class.

Faces changing in leadership at Amador Township

Despite potential for fireworks at the annual Amador Township meeting due to the fact that no one had filed for the open supervisor seat, Clay Larson was overwhelmingly voted as a new supervisor with 55 of the 65 votes cast.

Going mad for hoops!

It’s hard to believe that it’s already been five years of me doing this column.

Swimmers and divers enjoy valuable experience at state

Although the Chisago Lakes’ swimmers and divers that participated at the state meet last week couldn’t escape the preliminaries, it was still a fruitful experience for all seven of them.

Area boys hoops teams bow out meekly

Both the Chisago Lakes and North Branch boys basketball teams ended their season in the first round of the section tournament on Wednesday, March 5.

Vikings clip ‘Cats to end their season, but fall to Hermantown in semifinals

North Branch toppled Chisago Lakes for the third time this year to win their opener in the Section 7AAA postseason bracket, but unfortunately ran into second seeded Hermantown in the semifinals and were eliminated, ending their season.

Fishing for recipes during Lent

This will be a hard column for me to write. There’s very rarely a dinner I make that doesn’t have a meat featured, as most of you are probably similar.

Dahl finishes in top 20; Cyr top 40 at state meet

Chisago Lakes’ two representatives at the state alpine ski meet both performed well on Tuesday, February 11 at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.

Dick and Esget headed to state gymnastics meet

In one of the toughest gymnastics sections in the state, North Branch’s Dakota Esget and Ella Dick flew above the rest.

AREA HOOPS ROUND UP

Another week, another record broken by Kuhlman

Ella Kuhlman’s assault on the North Branch girls basketball scoring record continued last week as the senior netted a school record 43 points in a 77-65 win over Zimmerman on Tuesday, February 11.

Back to the deep freeze

I’m writing this column in a sour mood. I spent last week in the breezy, balmy 85 degree temps of the Dominican Republic on vacation with my family. We had a wonderful time on the beach, snorkeling, at the restaurants and just being general travel bums. I read a book in the sand, took a nap by the pool. Just did everything you’re supposed to do on a tropical vacation.

AREA HOOPS ROUND UP

NB girls back to winning ways

The North Branch girls basketball team was again the only local hoops squad to pick up a win last week, as they went 2-1 with a conference and section win and a loss to one of the tougher Mississippi 8 Conference teams.

‘We are at a point where this is critical’

CL Superintendent outlines the district’s infrastructure needs after the school board calls for a special election seeking $63 million in bonding

With the vote at last month’s Chisago Lakes School Board meeting that the district would be asking taxpayers for permission to sell over $63 million in bond funds through a special election this spring, there have been questions on what that money would be used for and how the district landed on that number.

Super recipes for the big game

Hard to believe that it’s already time for the big game this weekend. My wife sure will be happy that there’s no more football in the house! Nando, our Brazilian exchange student this year, took quite a liking to the Vikings and football in general, so she had double the headaches this year, especially a couple of weeks ago when the Vikings torpedoed out of the top spot and the playoffs.

AREA HOOPS ROUND UP

Winless week tough on Chisago County teams

North Branch’s girls team had been the lone bright spot for the county basketball scene this year, but they took on the second place St. Francis squad on Tuesday, January 21 in their lone action of the week and fell 54-49.

Some of my modern favorites

Here’s some of my favorite recipes that I’ve been making lately. There may not be a ton of rhyme or reason to them, but it’s just things that I’ve made recently that I either came right back to, or thought to myself ‘I really need to make this again’.

Chisago Lakes bond vote set for May 13

April showers will bring a May special election this year for the Chisago Lakes School District.

Vikings bite back at Bulldogs

The North Branch gymnastics team rose to the occasion on Thursday, January 18 when they took on defending state champions Becker and edged out a win, 140.85-140.075.

AREA HOOPS ROUND UP

Points at a premium as teams combine to go 1-7 last week

The Lady Vikings were the only area team to pick up a win last week, and that was a 61-55 victory over Princeton on Tuesday, January 14. The win stretched NB’s streak to five in a row, but that was brought to a screeching halt against unbeaten Monticello. The Magic dominated NB 74-39 on Thursday, January 16.

Spice up these cold days

OK, I am officially over winter. Once the holidays pass, I am usually down to get a little ice fishing in, a little snow tubing, and some general fun. But this last week? Once the negative 30 hits, get me out of Dodge. I want nothing to do with winter anymore and am just counting down the days until golf season now. Although it was bizarre last year, I’m missing the 50s and 60s we had in January and February. I golfed a round at Chisago Lakes in February last year even! Let’s get back to that and away from temps that make ice cubes shiver.

Kuhlman breaks school record and eclipses 2,000

For the second time in a week, the senior set the individual game scoring mark, netting 39 points against Zimmerman, and she also sailed past 2,000 career points in the win

Ella Kuhlman is on an absolute heater on the basketball court.