Lindstrom Council briefs.......
Lindstrom City Council met July 18 for a regular meeting. All members were present with council member Brian Norelius attending via zoom.
Stacy City Council OKs fireworks with reduced wind-testing prior
Stacy City Council met July 9 for a regular meeting, all members were present.
Karl Oskar Days was fantastic, Wannigan Days this weekend
What a fantastic weekend it was for Karl Oskar Days! Except for 30 minutes of rain that unfortunately cancelled the Loppet; but other than that, it was smooth sailing. Crowds were huge, and the parks with the vendors were packed. The parade had beautiful weather and the streets were lined with parade goers.
Center City Council gets bike trail update, water tower clean-up set
Center City Council met July 2 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Shafer City Council briefs
Shafer City Council met July 2 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Here comes Karl Oskar Days, make your plans now
One little bit of “Matt negativity” before I move on to Karl Oskar Days. What is with the people who use those disposable dental floss picks and then decide the rest of us want to look down and see them all over the place? My lord that is so gross I can’t begin to tell you how much it turns my stomach.
Happy 4th of July! On to one of our largest celebrations - KOD
I hope you and yours had an amazing Fourth of July. Judging by the boat traffic on all of the lakes, it looks like people are taking the entire week to celebrate the Fourth. We drove past the channel a couple of times, and there was always a boat either coming or going to North Lindstrom. It would be amazing if the water levels could remain this high so the five lakes could be navigated all summer long.
Lindstrom council hears from citizens, MnDOT, OK’s sewer truck purchase
Lindstrom City Council met June 20 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Midsummer Days deserves many thanks, get your detective hat on
Thanks so much to the good folks that worked so hard to make North Branch Midsummer Days so great this year.
Stacy City Council discuss cannabis in public places, creating committee
Stacy City Council met June 11 for a regular meeting, all members were present.
Midsummer Days invites you to come have some local fun
This week, the city of North Branch and the North Branch American Legion Post 85 would love it if you and your family and friends would come to the 98th annual Midsummer Days celebration. The celebration began on Wednesday and runs through Sunday. Beginning today, the carnival opens up at 4pm in Central Park. Back at the Legion, there is Bingo under the tent. These happen in two hour increments and run 10am, noon and 2 pm. There is a $500 jackpot for 57 numbers covered. Following Bingo, there is a meat raffle inside the bar at 5pm. At 4:30pm, under the big tent, it’s time for gun bingo with some fabulous firearms as prizes. This is an adult only event.
Center City Council cool to plat request on Park Island
Center City Council met June 4 for a regular meeting. Council member Ryan Pease was absent.
Congrats grads, fireworks date change, Harmony is underway
Congratulations to the most recent graduates of Wolf Creek Online School and the North Branch seniors. These kids have worked hard to get where they are today and I am certain they will make a difference in this world.
Shafer City Council ups council and mayor pay
Shafer City Council met June 4 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Bring your flag - buy a new flag, good luck local athletes at State
I had the pleasure of taking pictures at the Chisago Lakes Senior High graduation on Monday. It was easily the best weather I have seen at graduation in my 20 plus years of covering them. Judging by the sheer number of family and friends that came out, the weather had to only increase the already large crowd.
Shafer City Council briefs...
Shafer City Council met May 21 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
City council meets as new group
Stacy City Council met May 14 for a regular meeting, all members were present along 14 residents who were in attendance. The new council is made up of Mayor Mark Utecht, council members Tim Sawatzsky, Carolyn Cagle, Jeff Barrett and Dennis Thieling.
Lindstrom Council accepts audit, sale of lot to proceed
Lindstrom City Council met May 15. All members were present.
Memorial Day is meant to honor our local Veterans; Wolves win!
This weekend is Memorial Weekend. While most people look at it as a long weekend filled with barbecue, friends and family, the meaning behind Memorial Day is much more. It’s our great country’s chance to honor those women and men who have dutifully served our country and many of whom gave their lives for our freedom. We would not be where we are today without these awesome people. If you look in this edition, you will find two pages of Memorial Day services in our area. I would highly encourage you to come out to one of the services and pay your respects for the people who gave their lives for us.
Center City allows on/off sale liquor at Nordic Inn
Center City Council met May 7 for a regular meeting. All members were present with City Clerk Dana Miron absent and 23 people were in attendance at City Hall.
Northern lights were beautiful? Lots of fun coming this weekend
Did you get swept up with the northern lights this past weekend? Maybe my eyes are getting bad in my old age, but every time we went out to look at the lights, it just looked like dark streaks stretching across the sky.
Mother’s Day is about honor and saying thank you
This Sunday is a big one. Mother’s Day is our chance to tell and show our moms what they mean to us. Many of you have lost your mom just like me, so we have to turn our attention to those mother figures in our lives. For instance, our home celebrates my wife for being such a wonderful mom and being the most patient person in the world being married to an ogre like me. I do miss my mom and not a day goes by without some thought of her and what she instilled in me.
Lots to do this weekend, clean smelt and how ‘bout the Wolves
The Chisago Lakes Lions Club has just a few tickets left for their annual Dinner Saturday at the Uncommon Loon Brewery. The event opens its doors at 4:30 p.m. for happy hour with the dinner catered by Jon Ekstrom, and the fun beginning at 6pm following the party for the Kentucky Derby. Tickets can be purchased at the door, but I would recommend calling 612-501-1504 prior, to ensure you get a spot at the dinner. See you there!
Lindstrom Council adopts emergency radio contract; reallocates project balances
Lindstrom City Council met April 17 for a regular meeting. Council member Greg Krueger was absent.
Finally, I can get rid of my old waterbed; a fun play to take in
If you are like me and despise having junk sitting around your garage and house, you are in luck. Beginning this Saturday AAA Appliance will officially kick off their recycling day events. This Saturday at Wyoming Elementary School they will be accepting (for a small fee) appliances, electronics, tires, mattresses/boxsprings, batteries, furniture, and bulbs for recycling.
Shhh..is that a loon? A couple of fun local events to take in
Thanks to the group of people who took time out of their beautiful weekend last Saturday to build some loon nest platforms. The man made floating nests are complete and will be installed on North and South Center Lakes. Besides being our state bird, loons hold a special place in Minnesotans’ hearts. Just take notice if you are around water and happen to hear a loon call. Look at the expression of those around you, everyone stops to listen and a conversation usually follows. So to encourage nesting and increase our loon population is wonderful news.
Is that rain? No it’s my tears, groups donate a ton(s) of food
Sunday was a deluge of rain and wind in Chisago County. While the wind seemed as if we were in a low level hurricane, one thing that certainly was welcomed in our home was the moisture. As I have stated here many times, the lake levels have become incredibly low with the lack of winter moisture and the end of the summer drought. So, yes my plans to sunbathe took a hit on Sunday but there was extra moisture in the air from tears of joy. (Sorry to put that image in your head.)
Newspapers still work, meet the candidates for Stacy election
With the chain of lakes at an incredibly low level right now, and us only owning two sections of dock at my house, the docking of our boat was looking grim.
Stacy Council gives tower chores to marine services
Stacy City Council met March 12 for a regular meeting, all members were present.
Snow everywhere, thanks to all who came out to local events
My wife and I just got back from a week long vacation. I am not going to go on about the vacation because let’s be real, the only people who care about vacations are the ones who took them. It’s like listening to someone go on and on about their golf game. The only thing I will mention is that it was warm, like in the lower 90’s warm. So imagine our dismay when we came back to this...yuck. I am writing this Tuesday afternoon staring out at what I think is my truck under all that snow? Two days - two punches in the face. Before we left it was consistently in the 50’s and 60’s. Now I am not sure we will be able to get out of our driveway tomorrow morning. Good ol’ Minnesota.
Chisago Lake Township voters approve Sunday liquor sales
Chisago Lake Township’s annual meeting was March 12. Eleven people attended the meeting. John Nelson was elected the moderator.
Center City Council reviews sewer, water hook-up; new website services
Center City Council met March 6 for a regular meeting. Council member Lloyd Vetter and council member Ryan Pease were absent.
Waffles and beer, are there two better things to put in my body?
This weekend has some fun things for all of us to take in locally. Saturday the Chisago Lakes Lions Club would love to invite you and everyone you know to their annual Swedish Waffle Day celebration. The awesome meal consists of Belgian waffles (all you can eat) with all the fixings (or leave it plain like I do) sausage, milk and juice and of course coffee. The meal will be at the Chisago Lake Township Hall March 16 from 8am to 11:30am. We have an ad on page 4 in this edition with all the info.
Lindstrom Council clarifying Chamber aid; OK’s extra dockage
Lindstrom City Council met February 21 for a regular meeting. All members were present.
Food share month means opportunities for us to help
March is Minnesota Food Share Month. Minnesota Food Share March Campaign is the largest grassroots food and fundraising drive in the state, brings together organizations, businesses, faith communities, and individuals to help stock and support the capacity of nearly 300 food shelves including our local shelves. The campaign runs from late February until April 6.
Stacy City Council tackles water issues
Stacy City Council met February 13 for a regular meeting, all members were present.
Saying goodbye to a good friend
It is with a heavy heart that I write about the passing of a good friend and community staple for decades Pastor George Cruys. If you have lived in the area for some time, you may recognize the name. George was the pastor at Trinity Lutheran here in Lindstrom for years. His wonderful wife Kerine ran Gustaf’s Gifts which was a Swedish gift shop located where Gustaf’s Eatery is now.
Shafer Council removes two residents for multiple committee absences
Shafer City Council met February 6 for a regular meeting.
Celebration was still a good time
Well, Mother Nature tried her hardest to cancel the Celebration of the Lakes. But in true Chisago Lakes’ fashion, we made due with what we had. And you know what? We still managed to have a good time doing so.
Still plenty of fun to be had
Okay, the Celebration of the Lakes is still on. We have had plenty of calls inquiring about the event so I am here to shed some light.
Celebration of the Lakes still on!
Fair warning: Lots of lake talk ahead....
Lindstrom Council asked to include historical society in souvenir sales fundraiser
Lindstrom city council met January 17 for a regular meeting. Council member Linda Merkel was absent.
Good day for a drive - on the ice...
On Sunday we were eating dinner when our dog started barking like mad. We got up to see a small SUV driving on the lake ice. Big deal Matt - cars drive on the ice all the time. True, but this car was probably approaching 50 miles per hour. We opened our window to get a better view and it was a woman all by herself with her windows down (being safe I assume) and she was hooting and hollering. She would whip her vehicle around and spin out of control. We had a good laugh until she drove up on our neighbor’s shoreline and almost hit their dock. I am not sure if she was breaking any rules or not, but there were definitely some ice fishermen in the same bay keeping a close eye on her.
Black eye? Thanks Ma Nature
What a blow Mother Nature gave us the last few days. To go from the 40’s and wearing sweatshirts for outdoor apparel to donning Carhartt coats with face masks to protect our cheeks from below zero temps.
Shafer council briefs........
Shafer City Council met January 2 for a regular Council meeting. All members were present.
Your help is incredible
I hope you had a great New Years Eve and New Years day. We set out to celebrate a day earlier on Saturday with some friends in Wisconsin. Little did we know, we would be back home in three minutes. From our road to the roundabout by Hazelden (Center City) there were three vehicles in the ditch. The roads were a sheet of ice. We promptly turned around (after sliding into the middle of the roundabout) and headed home. We ended up having a wonderful meal at Jakes by the Lakes which wasn’t crowded at all because of the roads. So our big party weekend consisted of one meal out, and a whole lot of staying home and safe. Probably for the best.
Christmas in short sleeves
I hope you had a chance to spend Christmas with your family over the weekend. We had three Christmas celebrations with various versions of the family. This was by far the most relaxing Christmas I can remember. I had shopping done a month ago, we had our meals all planned out and the prep went smoothly, all there was to do was relax and enjoy family. Maybe I am getting old and sentimental, but the food absolutely stood out this year. My wife Cheryl made some of the most mouthwatering food I have ever tasted, as well as my baby brother made incredible pizzas on their new outdoor pizza oven. With all that eating and relaxing, my pants fit a bit tighter than before, but it was worth it. I still have a few days until New Year’s and my yearly “I’m going to lose 100 pounds” preposterous statement —so I’m going to enjoy the leftovers.
Stacy preps to absorb township
Stacy City Council met December 13 for a regular meeting, council members Marie Lawrence and Jennie Carlson were absent. The meeting was held at Lent Town Hall and will be for the foreseeable future.
Merry Christmas to you and your families!
This is our last paper before Christmas. So if you are opposed to religious tones, move to the next paragraph. Monday is when the world celebrates the birth of Jesus. Right around 2.3 billion people consider themselves Christians, myself included. My faith has gotten me through the worst times imaginable and I can honestly say without it, I most likely wouldn’t be here. Maybe that’s why Christmas is so emotional for me. My parents did a wonderful job showing me the true meaning of Christmas and I have tried to do so with my kids (I am certain I have not came close to the job my parents did).
Shafer City Council finds common ground on joining of two lots
Shafer City Council met December 5 for a regular Council meeting. All members were present.
Prev Next