Shafer gets highway update from MnDOT at meeting
Shafer City Council met October 21 for a regular meeting. Mayor Paula Hanson was absent.
Tragedy is a time for support
The tragic news that took place on early Saturday morning has shook our community. The community and more importantly two families have lost their sons because of this awful event. Social media has been on fire since the crash and I am happy to say most of it (unlike normal) has been positive. There are some pointing fingers and accusing this person or that person. This is not the time for that, this is the time to rally around these families to show love and support. The pain they are going through is absolutely unimaginable.
Lindstrom sees utility rate hikes and capital plan costs for next five years
Lindstrom City Council met October 15 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Stacy gets 2024 audit; hears of ‘amazing’ staff
Stacy City Council met October 14 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Center City Council communicates with TF on Hursh relocation delay
Center City Council met October 7 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Chisago Age Well expo Friday
The Chisago Age Well committee invites everyone to the fall expo tomorrow (Friday) at Chisago Lakes High School. The expo runs from 9am to 1pm and is located through the performing arts center entrance. The expo is filled with vendors of all types relating to aging in Minnesota along with free health screenings, prizes and giveaways. Food and refreshments are available for purchase as well. You can even get your flu shot, covid vaccine, RSV and tetanus shots. At 10:30 am, Natalie Matthewson will give a seminar called Changing How We Talk About Aging. The Chisago Lakes Ukulele Band and Unexpected Company will provide entertainment for everyone.
Fire Prevention open houses
This Saturday Center City Fire and Lindstrom Fire departments are holding their annual Fire Prevention Open Houses. This is our chance to stop in and say thanks to the men and women who voluntarily give their time risking their lives to save our homes and businesses. I am friends with a lot of these people and I can say with certainty that they truly do care about our community.
Recycling, apology and crow
This weekend, Mark and his crew at AAA Recycling will be holding their annual fall clean up and recycling event in Center City. The event is Saturday and will run from 8am to 2pm and is always held in the lower parking lot of Chisago Lake Lutheran Church.
Apple Festival was a great time
I hope you had a chance to visit Almelund’s Apple Festival last Sunday. We went and the crowds seemed bigger than ever. We had some absolutely incredible desserts that were made by Apple Festival volunteers. We did grab a bag of apples (and yikes they are not cheap anymore) that we are still enjoying today. Thanks to all who helped put on this wonderfully quaint event. Take it from an outsider, we all love the apple festival.
Apple Fest time this weekend
What a great weekend we had for Shafer Days. Except for a little rain on Friday evening, the weather couldn’t have been any better. Downtown Shafer was buzzing with people all day Saturday with a massive car show lining mainstreet. I don’t know how many of you took the time to visit Shafer City Hall on Saturday, but they had one of the best historical displays I have ever seen. They had the entire council chamber displaying hundreds of historical items from photos to letters, even plat books. The room also featured a video produced by Jack Doepke that was all about Shafer and its history.
Shafer Days this weekend
This weekend the city of Shafer would like to invite you and your family to the annual Shafer Days event. The celebration is Friday and Saturday and absolutely everyone is invited. The weekend kicks off with Bingo at the fire hall at 6pm. Food and beverages will be available for purchase.
Local mini golf hole now in Guinness Book of Records
It’s uncanny how sometimes the best ideas can arise just figuring out how to make something work.
Summer is not over (it can’t be)
I can not believe the kids are back in school. It seems like yesterday when we saw the last group of kids walking to the Dairy Queen to celebrate school being over with. This summer has absolutely flown by and now the weather geniuses are forecasting high temps in the 50’s. Please, please bring back the sunny 80 degree temperatures - I am not done yet.
Lindstrom City Council reviews Highway 8 plans
Lindstrom City Council met August 20 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Shafer city council tackles personnel, permits and more
Shafer City Council met August 19 for a regular meeting council member Nick Brehm was absent.
Block party is this Saturday
We took part in the Center Lakes Association Raffle Run on Saturday. The event is held at five homes located on North and South Center. What a great event that was. The day was chilly, but everyone was still having a blast. Thank you so much to the host families for putting on quite the spreads. And a big thank you to the Association for creating such a fun, bonding event. Hopefully the donations were plenty, because the food and drinks sure were.
Relay and Raffle this weekend
Well, Mother Nature wasn’t on the side of Ki Chi Saga Days, but when the weather let up, it was a full-go. Despite the drizzle, people still came out in droves to Moberg and Paradise Parks over the weekend. I did not go, but I hear the Lucha Libre wrestling at the Uncommon Loon was a great time.
Center City: More ironworks complaints, ‘patience wears thin’
Center City Council met August 5 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Ki Chi Saga Days is upon us
Chisago City would love nothing more than to have you and your family come enjoy Ki Chi Saga Days. One of the biggest town celebrations in the county, Ki Chi Saga Days has something for everyone. The event begins today (Thursday) with city wide garage sales which you can find on page 19. At 6pm, all are invited to the Uncommon Loon for a night of Lucha Libre all-star wrestling. You can get tickets at the door or by calling 651-257-4162.
Shafer council hears citizen concerns
Shafer City Council met August 4 for a regular meeting. All members were present, 26 people were in the audience.
Relay for Life and street closure
Last weekend was a perfect weekend for Stacy Daze. The parade may have had the best weather I can remember. All of the events were very well attended and the fireworks show was fantastic. Thanks to all who worked so hard making sure Stacy Daze was so enjoyable for all of us.
LID seeks city channel endorsement
Lindstrom City Council met July 17 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
On to Center City Days fun
I hope you had a chance to get to Wannigan Days over the weekend. After a drizzly start on Saturday the skies cleared and it was beautiful.
Wannigan Days turn for fun!
What a wonderful weekend we had for Karl Oskar Days. Saturday the temps stayed comfortable and we had a nice cooling breeze for the parade. I spent a lot of time at Karl Oskar Days and there were people absolutely everywhere.
Shafer City Council approves skatepark installation this summer
Shafer City Council met July 1 for a regular meeting all members were present. Council member Patty Mattson, who sits on the parks committee, told council the committee would like to purchase a skate park to be installed inside the ice rink during the summer months. Maintenance supervisor Dan Cooper told the council the park is removable with a skid steer and can be stored outdoors during the winter. Mattson handed out a picture of the proposed skate park which would cost $16,000 which Mattson said the parks fund has money for the project. Mattson told the council the hope is if approved to have the skate park installed yet this summer. Delivery of the materials will take around a month.
Center City Council to review Hursh situation in August
Center City Council met July 1 for a regular meeting. All members were present. Council member Sally Swanson updated the council on the Hursh Ironworks potential move to Taylors Falls. Swanson said she spoke with the clerk from Taylors Falls and was told Hursh notified the city their company was in a better money position than it has been and they assured Taylors Falls the process should move along quicker than it has. A member of the audience who lives near the Hursh Ironworks property in Center City told council they need to set a hard deadline and stick to it. Council agreed to wait until the August meeting to see if any headway is made in Taylors Falls and if not, discuss taking action on complaints then.
Away we go with local fun events
Summer is officially here and so are the summer town celebrations. In a week, Karl Oskar Days will take center stage with all the bells and whistles. This year’s celebration promises to be bigger and better than ever. The celebration is shifting back to include Sunday. We will have all the info next week for the fun festival, but in the meantime, please see pages 7 and 9 for info to plan your weekend in advance. They are bringing all-star wrestling back Sunday evening which will take place at the high school. The street dance will feature The Breakfast Club Band that plays hits from the 80’s to today.
Lindstrom Council hears from school Supt., hikes cemetery fee
Lindstrom City Council met June 18 for a regular meeting. The meeting was held at the Chisago Lakes Chamber building due to Harmony in the Park taking place at Lions Park at the same time. All members were present.
Midsommar was a blast (furnace)
What a weekend that was. We had the first ever Lindstrom Midsommar celebration all weekend long and had North Branch’s Midsummer Days as well. It just so happened to be the hottest weekend of the year, but that didn’t seem to deter the crowds.
We have lost our marbles.....
From time to time, I have been accused of being too negative in my columns. Hard to believe I know, but if you happen to be one or more of those individuals who have told me this before, I suggest you try back here next week.
Graduation time, girls to state!
As you can see by the middle spread in this paper, this is graduation week. Chisago Lakes, North Branch and Trio Wolf Creek students all graduate this week. As I write this, the rain has been falling for seven hours and doesn’t appear to be stopping anytime soon. Let’s hope the front moves out so the outdoor graduations can take place.
Shafer audit presented
Shafer City Council met May 20 for a regular meeting all members were in attendance.
Rotary Club has done it again
We have ended our subscription renewal campaign here at the Press. Many thanks to those of you who took advantage of our early renewal offer and thanks so much to those of you who subscribed recently.
Memorial Day weekend is here
This weekend is Memorial Day weekend and if you take a look at the middle of this edition of the County Press you will see two pages of Memorial Day events held by local Veterans around the county. They take time out of their busy schedules to hold Memorial Day services for you and me. Almost every cemetery has a service so you can attend, at a time that’s convenient for you. This is our chance to remember those family members, friends and community members that have given their lives for our great country and the very least we can do is come out and show our respect. The services are usually quite quick because they have so many to perform during the day. I will see you out there.
Stacy hears patrol activity report; town hall damaged with flooding
Stacy City Council met May 13 for a regular meeting. Mayor Mark Utecht was absent. Council member Dennis Thieling was acting Mayor.
Shafer citizens share nuisance concerns with council
Shafer City Council held a regular meeting May 6. All members were present.
These are not the Wolves I knew
I am so old that I can honestly say I attended the very first Minnesota Timberwolves game in the good old Metrodome. You know how over time our memories kind of embellish events and usually for the better? Like, how I used to be so handsome the girls were knocking down my door in the late 80’s....Well let me tell you my memory of the Timberwolves playing in the dome is awful. It was a dark dungeon and our seats were so far away that the players looked like ants (not Anthony Edwards). So I have seen a LOT of Wolves games in my life - a LOT of terrible basketball being played. And to watch this team (and last year’s) feels like a dream. Granted I watch from the confines of my couch now. The level of basketball we are seeing is something the Minnesota sports fan is not used to viewing. I couldn’t care less if they don’t make the finals, the fact we get to watch competitive basketball is worth it to me.
Wishing mothers a wonderful day
This is the weekend we celebrate our mothers. Mother’s Day. While many say it is a made up holiday, but still offers something special. It’s a chance to tell our mothers and our children’s mothers how much they mean to us. It’s a chance to say thank you for your undeniable love and constant support. My wife and I have both lost our mothers, as many of you have I am sure. But I still make a point of showing my gratitude for her raising two great kids despite having me as a father. I hope you get a chance to spend time with your mom this weekend and let her know how much she means.
Lots of things to do this weekend
This weekend Mark and the crew at AAA Recycling will hold their first recycling event. The event runs Saturday from 8am to 2pm in the lower parking lot of Chisago Lake Lutheran Church in Center City. This is your chance to get rid of clutter that has been bugging you all winter. There is a small charge for most stuff and we have an ad on page six listing what items are accepted. They do accept cash, checks and even Venmo. If I could make a suggestion, get there early. The lines tend to get longer as the day progresses.
Shafer City Council discusses second addition to Shafer Meadows
Shafer City Council held a regular meeting April 15. All members were present.
Thank you for reading today
Last week we mailed out our blue renewal cards. I know that many of you have taken advantage of our early renewal coupon we ran for a month. If you have renewed already, you do not have to call us, I am sure the card and your payment just crossed paths in the night at the USPS. If you have not renewed, we have made it easy for you to do so. Simply send in your payment along with the blue card and we will make sure you don’t miss a single week of the Chisago County Press.
Happy Easter to your families
Thanks so much to Doris and all of her awesome helpers who once again put on a great Easter egg hunt last Saturday. You never know what weather we will have for the hunt (we have had snow and even a driving rain) so Saturday’s good weather was awesome.
Center City council accepts Rotary kiosk, and bike trail donations
Center City Council held a regular meeting April 1. All members were present. The meeting began with Chris DuBose addressing the council as a Rotary representative. DuBose told the council Rotary has designated the future Swedish Immigrant Trailhead in Center City as a beneficiary of funds. DuBose suggested the Rotary might fund a kiosk like other trailheads such as Taylors Falls. The council thanked the Rotary for their generous donation.
Shafer City Council briefs....
Shafer City Council held a regular meeting April 1. Council member Nick Brehm and attorney James Monge were absent.
Goodbye Alice - you will be missed
If there is one thing I hate, it’s using this space to talk about friends and people in our community who have passed away. It’s not that I hate writing about them, rather it means I am writing about someone I have come to know and many times become close to. This week is no exception. Alice Nelson has sadly passed away. Many of our loyal readers will recognize the name as she was our food writer for what seemed like decades.
Easter seems so late this year
Every year since our kids were small we have saved to take a vacation. My wife and I grew up in households that never, and I mean never, took vacations. It just wasn’t feasible back then. We vowed to try our darndest to make sure our kids had a vacation even if it was someplace as simple as the north shore.
Chisago Lake Township levy upped seven percent
Chisago Lake Township met for the annual meeting March 11. The meeting began shortly after the polls closed. Fifteen people attended the meeting.
Say goodbye to a good friend
The community has had a few losses of pillars recently.
Shafer charitable gaming permits in flux; Saloon pulltabs put on hold
Shafer City Council held a regular meeting March 4. All members were present. The meeting began by hearing from Matt McKenzie of the Shafer Fire and Rescue Relief Association. McKenzie is the gambling manager for the association and he was there to discuss Shafer Saloon.
Center City Council gets updates on burnt building, auto-pay, ironworks relocation
Center City Council met March 4 for a regular meeting. All members were present with council member Lloyd Vetter joining virtually.
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