The Citizen

Intricate Easter egg decorations

Area business owner granted birthday wish

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

Farrell Tuohy had one wish for his 60th birthday — better health.

That might just happen, thanks to White Bear Lake resident Jeff Engler. After a yearlong process, Engler found out he is a match and may be able to donate a kidney to Tuohy. Tuohy’s wife Kim is Engler’s cousin.

Tuohy, owner of Pizza Man & Corner Malt Shop in White Bear Lake, has been on dialysis for nearly three years, something he says he can’t do forever. (See “Area business owner patiently waiting for kidney, June 8, 2021.)

So far, three people have come forward as potential donors but none of them have been a match. Engler is the first person to make it all the way through the testing phase, although there are still a few things that need to happen in order for the surgery to take place.

Last summer, the Englers stopped by Pizza Man’s booth at Marketfest and they started talking about blood types. Later, after realizing his blood type matched Tuohy’s, Engler decided to go through the testing to see if he was a match but he had one condition for Tuohy’s wife, Kim — she couldn’t tell her husband.

Population, housing options on the rise in area

BY RANDY PAULSON STAFF WRITER

The past decade and change has been a time of growth for central and northern Washington County in terms of population and places for people to live.

Lake Elmo

Nowhere has that growth been more pronounced than in Lake Elmo, which from 2010 to 2020 grew in population from 8,069 people to 11,335.

More recently, the city’s population stands at close to 13,000 people, per U.S. Census data.

The jump in number of residents — and housing — didn’t take off

in earnest until the middle of the decade, though, according to City Administrator Kristina Handt.

“We’ve been adding about 250 to 300 new homes each year since about 2016. Our growth really kicked off in 2015,” Handt said, adding the population spurt is because the city was connected to a regional sewer system at the urging of the Met Council in 2014.

The city went from 41 permits for new housing units in 2014 to 142 permits in 2015 and 336 permits in 2016.

“I would say we do about 250 new homes on average each year. Sometimes it’s closer to 300. This past year, I think we just barely crossed 200,” Handt said.

She noted the growth has been

contained to main spots: along I-94 to the south, and in the city’s downtown or “Old Village” area to the northeast along Lake Elmo Avenue and Stillwater Boulevard.

“It’s not our plan to have all of Lake Elmo be developed at these high densities; we still really value the rural areas,” Handt said. Handt noted a shift in the types of new housing in Lake Elmo. Although most of the earlier developments were for singlefamily units (which also is what 82% of the city’s housing stock was as of 2017), newer developments have tended toward townhomes and apartments.

According to projections from the SEE

SEE KIDNEY BUDDIES, PAGE 5

CONTRIBUTED

Pizza Man owner Farrell Tuohy (right) poses for a photo with his “kidney buddy” Jeff Engler. If everything goes as planned, Engler plans to donate his kidney to Tuohy.

Shannon

Kilmartin uses a candle to melt beeswax, revealing rich, underlying colors, while recently demonstrating the process of decorating Ukrainian Easter Eggs. She and her mother Debi Johnson are continuing to practice the annual tradition that they learned from dear family friends Tamara and Alex Zaluckyj, who had family connections to Ukraine and have since passed away. Kilmartin, at left, displays a couple of her favorite egg designs. Find more photos and information about the traditional process online at presspubs.com.

Centerville Strong: ‘Growing city with thriving businesses’

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

CENTERVILLE — If there is one thing the mayor wants you to know about the city in 2023, it is that the city is strong.

Mayor D. Love recently presented the first-ever State of the City Address, hosted by the Quad Area Chamber of Commerce. He explained that he has traveled around the state and around the country and spoken to city officials from cities of all sizes. He has left each conversation feeling proud of his city and excited for what is yet to come.

“We are uniquely positioned to prosper in the present, yet grow in the future. We have a history steeped in tradition and values with the future of bountiful possibilities,” Love said. “We are uniquely Centerville.”

The city has welcomed many new businesses in 2022 going into 2023, including: Norbella Senior Living, Atlas Villas Memory Care, Kwik Trip, Centerville Storage, Sutton Transport, First Choice Builds, American Roofing Supply, Max Storage and Amazon.

Love shared that a new boutique, Onyx & Co., has opened its doors in the strip mall across from City Hall, and Guys and Dolls Salon has signed a purchase agreement to build on property located on Main Street next to Centerville Elementary School.

A hotel and restaurant user has also expressed interest in property located on the northeast corner of town north of Norbella Senior Living.

“We continue to talk about development on Blocks 5 and 7,” Love explained. “The talk of developing and redeveloping our downtown stretches back nearly two decades.”

The Economic Development Authority is currently

looking at the downtown comprehensive plan, which was created in 2006. “The world has gone through a couple of changes since then, but needless to say the plan did not go away,” Love said. Along with an adviser, EDA members are evaluating whether the plan still makes sense or if it needs to be changed when looking at 2023 and beyond.

“We still believe there’s opportunity in our downtown to become more robust and vibrant than it is today,” Love said. “We know the presence of a small-town build remains important, but I believe it’s time to update that that comp plan. I don’t know if it’s a small-town feel anymore. I think it’s a hometown feel … We can think big and we can grow while remaining in our limited borders.”

For the next two years, the City Council plans to focus on three goals: economic development, organizational resilience and community building. Love says there are a lot of priorities within each of those that will allow the city to measure its success, or lack thereof.

Love also wanted to celebrate Centerville’s fiscal responsibility. The city recently restructured some of its investments to take advantage of the rising interest rates, and the city’s bonds have been set up to see steady decreases over the coming years. Centerville’s current debt will be paid off by 2029.

In 2023, the city’s website has a new look and, thanks to a suggestion by a junior council member, the city also has its own mobile app.

“As I look forward into the future of Centerville, I see a growing city with thriving businesses integrated as members of the city. I also see neighbors and people with pride in their homes and their community,” Love said. “I see a connected city with a hometown feel driven by citizens.”

SHANNON GRANHOLM PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Centerville Mayor D. Love presents the first-ever State of the City address at St. Genevieve Parish Community Center.

Sheriff’s Office receives grant to address drug trafficking

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office will receive $146,100 from the Office of the National Drug Control Policy for participation in the High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. The term of the grant agreement is Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2024.

The HIDTA program provides resources to federal, state, local and tribal agencies to coordinate activities to address drug trafficking in specifically designated areas of the county. This program identifies and disrupts or dismantles drug trafficking organizations and money laundering organizations; reduces drug-related crime and violence; and identifies and responds to emerging drug trends.

County board receives update from MMCD project affairs manager

The Metropolitan Mosquito Control District (MMCD) levy within Washington County will be $1.666 million 2023, a $65,038 increase from 2022. The mosquito control district serves the seven-county metropolitan area of

COUNTY BRIEFS

2,900 square miles, with a population of more than 3 million people. The district provides mosquito control, as well as tickborne disease surveillance, and education about mosquitoes and the diseases carried by the insects. Information on larval surveillance and treatment can be found on maps at MMCD.org by entering an address in the map. Additional information and contact information is available on the website.

Commissioners approve agreement regarding opioid supply chain members

The Washington County Board of Commissioners has revised its memorandum of agreement regarding receiving proceeds from settlements with those producing and distributing opioids. The county will be the recipient of $6.370 million from the initial settlements from the complaints filed by many Minnesota counties, including Washington County, starting in 2017; the money will be received over the next 18 years. Recently, settlements

County receives grant to assist in recruiting, retaining public health workers

Washington County will receive a $642,621 grant from the Minnesota Department of Health to support and assist in building a diverse public health workforce through Nov. 30, 2027. The funding comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The purpose of the money is to recruit, retain and train a skilled and diverse public health workforce, address longstanding public health infrastructure needs and increase the size of the public health workforce.

Grant activities may include:

• Supporting and sustaining the public health workforce by strengthening workplace well-being programs.

• Expanding engagement with the workforce to address mental, emotional and physical well-being.

• Implementing workplace improvements. It will also be used to train new and existing public health staff by improving the quality and scope of training and professional development opportunities for all staff. The county will also expand recruitment.

Upcoming Games

April 4-9 vs. Iowa Cubs

April 18-23 vs. Scranton/WB Railriders

have been reached with additional parties: three pharmacies, Walmart, Walgreens and CVS; and two manufacturers, Teva and Allergan.

The board’s action authorized the settlements with the additional pharmacies and manufacturers, and agreed to an updated memorandum of agreement that oversees the settlements. Whether named or not, all local governments are eligible to participate in settlements. The settlements are an independent local decision, as the actions are not class action lawsuits, and each local agency must agree to settlements for each separate defendant.

Washington County is exploring how best to use the funds, and the funds will be used on activities that directly address the opioid crisis to save lives by preventing overdose through potential strategies. Residents who wish to take a survey on that use may visit the county website at www.co.washington. mn.us and search “opioids” to see a webpage that provides more infor-

CSAH 8 signal up and running

The stoplights at the intersection of CSAH 8/Main Street and Oneka Parkway are now operational. The project, which was initially identified by Washington County as a 2024 project, was moved up to 2022 to coincide with the city of Hugo’s project on Oneka Parkway. The project was bid with a substantial completion date of June 30, 2023. Hugo City Engineer Mark Erichson explained that material availability and supply chain issues have been major factors in the delay for the signals going live.

The contractor installed most of the underground infrastructure for the signal system (signal bases and wiring) in the fall. The steel arrived in January 2023 and the contractor installed portions of the materials they received even though traffic signal work does not normally occur during winter months, Erichson explained. The completed traffic signal heads arrived in early March and the contractor has been working to coordinate a day to install the steel arms. Lane closures and traffic control in addition to contractor scheduling and cooperative weather conditions all have played a factor. The signal is now up and running, three months ahead of schedule.

Library continues its hotspot lending program

The Washington County Library will continue its hotspot lending program, after the county board approved a continuing contract with T-Mobile for service for the hotspots. The hotspots allow library

mation and the opportunity to take a survey on the funds’ use.

County board recognizes National County Government Month

The National Association of Counties (NACo) has proclaimed April 2023 as National County Government Month in appreciation of county government employees who provide services for residents in Washington County. This year’s theme is “Counties RISE! - Resiliency, Inclusion, Solvency and Empowerment”. The employees of Washington County provide services of county government to more than 260,000 residents each day. County services include public health and environmental services; law enforcement, prosecution and probation; community services that support those with mental illness, those with disabilities, and the elderly; elections; roads, parks and libraries; as well as the internal services needed to deliver all county services.

patrons to borrow hotspots to access the internet from home. The Library began a program in October 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic to lend hotspots to patrons, using funding Washington County obtained through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.

The Library extended the program for one year by forming an agreement with T-Mobile for $141,120, which was funded through the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) and American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funds.

The Library will extend the program until October 2024 under the agreement with T-Mobile for $142,800, which will be funded by ARPA funds.

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center  6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville  Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site  14383 Forest Blvd N, Hugo

Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Community Center  6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville  www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937 761757

Masses: Sunday 9:30am & 6:30pm Wed 6:30p, Thurs 8:00a Fri 8:00a, Sat 4p

Reconciliation: Wed 5:30-6:15p,Thurs 8:30-9:00a

Communion: Tues 10a

CHURCH OF ST. PIUS X 3878 Highland Avenue, White Bear Lake, MN 651-429-5337

Did you miss me?!

Ihope so because I missed you. I recently returned to work after taking 12 weeks off for maternity leave. My husband and I welcomed our first child, Royce, the day after Christmas.

Dropping him off at daycare for the first time and walking back into the Press Publications office after being off for three months was an absolutely surreal experience. I may have shed a tear (or two).

During my leave, I unplugged from the world for a while. I didn’t watch the news on TV or scroll my newsfeed on Facebook for quite some time. Part of that was on purpose, but another part of that was because my family and I had so much going on all at once.

Shannon’s

Shenanigans

Shannon Granholm

Right after welcoming our son, we had to rush our corgi Twinkie to the emergency vet. For six months prior we were religiously putting various drops in her left eye to try to cure neurogenic dry eye, which means her glands were producing zero tears. At one point, we were putting five different drops in her eye twice a day.

Needless to say, the drops didn’t work and she developed an ulcer on her eye. We had to rush her to the emergency vet and were told that if we didn’t remove her eye, it would likely rupture. We went through with the surgery and thankfully Twinkie didn’t skip a beat. Besides being a little loopy from the anesthesia and drugs for the first 24 hours, she adapted very well and went right back to acting like her sassy self. And now she has one more nickname, T-Winks.

At the same time our German shepherd Frosty also started having troubles of her own. She likely has degenerative myelopathy (DM), which is a disease that affects the spinal cord, resulting in slowly progressive hind limb weakness and paralysis. DM is similar to some of the forms of human ALS/Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

In the beginning she started dragging her feet and but then one day she went to stand up and it was like her legs just weren’t there anymore. It happened so fast and has been absolutely heartbreaking to watch. She is only 9 years old. We are hoping the disease’s progression slows down for a while so we can keep her enjoying life and free of pain for as long as possible.

She’s on the waitlist to get a doggy wheel chair that should help her get around outdoors. Indoors we have a harness that we can use to lift her back legs so she can get up and down all the stairs in our split-level home.

So much has happened in my life over these last few months, and I know a lot has happened in our communities while I was away. I was so sad to hear Chef Hot Hands was killed in a shooting in St. Paul. What a huge loss for our communities.

I was happy to hear area business owner Farrell Tuohy was gifted a kidney on his birthday after a three-year wait.

I’ve sure missed my interactions with community members and I’m looking forward to plugging back in and feeling in-the-know again.

Subscription Campaign

I am so grateful that our paper continues to come out every other week and that we have support from the communities we cover. As we enter our spring subscription campaign, please consider supporting your local newspaper by becoming a subscriber. You can become a subscriber by filling out the envelope inserted in this paper, calling our office at 651-407-1200 or visiting our website at www.presspubs.com/site/forms/ subscription_services.

Shannon Granholm is the managing editor at Press Publications.

Striking a balance

Senate Republicans have been clear on our top priority for session: meaningful tax relief that helps families across the state combat the crippling effects of inflation. Unfortunately, we are in the minority and have little control regarding the overall direction of session priorities. That being said, our input still matters, and Democrats need Republican support to pass a bonding bill, which requires a 3/5 vote to pass in the Senate. While Republicans want to pass a bonding bill that makes needed investments throughout the state, we want it to be passed in tandem with tax relief— there’s no reason we can’t do both, and we have been working hard to achieve this goal.

A few weeks ago, Senate Democrats brought forward a bonding bill. Typically, these bills are one of the last pieces of legislation we vote on, so it felt a bit premature to be having a discussion before the committee had worked through all the

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bonding requests from across the state. Despite our repeated attempts to work across the aisle to pass tax relief with bonding, Democrats brought forward a bill that did not get a single Republican vote.

Our state currently sits on a historic $17.5 billion surplus, which is proof of the overtaxation Minnesotans have been subjected to for far too long. How can we, in good conscience, go back to families in our districts with a historic surplus, and defend putting $2 billion on the state’s credit card without giving a penny of their hardearned money back? Senate Republicans have been ready to work on getting a deal that provides needed tax relief while also investing in projects that improve infrastructure across the state. Part of our solution was the Give It Back tax plan which would have provided $13 billion in tax relief including the elimination of the social security tax, income tax cuts, property tax relief, a child tax credit, and rebate checks. This is what Minnesotans have been asking for, so it was very disappointing that the Democrats refused to even entertain this plan. In fact, they instead doubled down and put forward a budget that amounts to an additional $17.9 billion

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spending with no plans included for tax relief.

With one-party control, it can be difficult to be heard at the Capitol. We offered a reasonable solution, and have continued to offer more, but all have fallen on deaf ears. In fact, one Democrat Senator even said that tax relief would have been possible if Republicans voted for a bonding bill. From that comment alone, it’s clear that both sides agree on the need for bonding AND tax relief, we just haven’t found the bipartisan path to get there. It’s that time of year, where we will continue to negotiate into the wee hours, to try and find a balance. But again, with one-party control, I am hoping that the Democrats will be fairminded and sensible, and keep all Minnesotans’ priorities at the forefront of discussions.

At the end of the day, Senate Republicans are prepared to support a bonding bill, so long as it comes with tax relief. We are ready to work together in a bipartisan way so we can find the balances necessary to get these two priorities done for the people across Minnesota.

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Sen. Karin Housley represents District 33.

Legislator Lingo Karin Housley

KIDNEY BUDDIES: The long wait is over

FROM PAGE 1

“It’s not very often a person has a chance to be a living donor,” explained Engler, who is listed as a donor on his license. “I’m a firm believer that you help out where you can, and if I can give him a kidney and prolong his life and get him up and running again … I don’t need two kidneys. You do what you can for family.”

After about a year of going through the process and just days before Tuohy’s birthday, Engler found out he was a match. On Tuohy’s birthday, the Englers and some family members stopped by for a visit and to reveal the surprise.

‘Living water’

“It threw me for a loop. I didn’t know anything about it,” Tuohy said. “It was a total shocker.”

Before giving Tuohy a card, Engler asked him, “If you could have anything in the world right now, what would it be?” And Tuohy responded, “better health.”

Engler then unzipped his sweatshirt to reveal a T-shirt that read, “kidney buddies for life.”

Tuohy was speechless.

“There is no way in hell I would have guessed he was there to do that,” Tuohy said. “I lost it. It was crazy. I couldn’t speak.”

Tuohy is beyond grateful for the

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

Solar powerreally?

“Can I get you something to drink?” This is simply a polite question to ask a guest. We ask this question when we are getting together to celebrate Easter, hanging out with friends, or preparing for an upcoming summer barbeque.

Not only is this question considered good manners, it shows our need to stay hydrated. Our bodies need water to survive.

Pastor’s Ponderings

Tim Heinecke

As Jesus was talking with a Samaritan woman getting water, He said, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:13-14)

Easter is a time when we celebrate Jesus coming and giving us life. Just as water keeps us alive, Jesus’ love has the power to save our lives forever. That is a “drink” we all need!

If you are looking for a church home to celebrate this Easter, we invite you to join our church family! A free Easter breakfast will be at 8 a.m. followed by worship at 9 a.m. on Easter Sunday (April 9). Worship will also be live-streamed on our YouTube channel.

Tim Heinecke is the pastor at New Life Lutheran Church in Hugo.

sacrifice that Engler is willing to make. “That’s one hell of a sacrifice, for him to make that commitment …” he said.

The two are hopeful the donation will happen, but there are a few hurdles that need to be jumped over first. They have to go through a tissue crossmatch to check to see how Tuohy’s immune system may react to Engler’s kidney.

In addition, Tuohy currently has a wound on his toe that is slow to heal. In order to speed up the healing process, he may need to go through a partial amputation. Once he is healed from that, if everything else

I recently was able to look at a solar power setup where the homeowner was trying to supplement his electrical grid power during the day with a few solar panels. It gave me a good look at just how possible going “green” (solar and wind power only) is. The homeowner had two sets of solar panels of 15-20 panels each. While I was there, two small heater/blower units were operating from one of the sets of solar panels. Both blower units worked until the sunlight was reduced by clouds going overhead, which caused one of blowers to quit. You might say the owner had a “brownout” in his solarsupplied power. In order to get the second heater/ blower running again, the second group of 15-20 solar panels had to be tied into his solar power setup. At that point, it was taking between 30 and 40 solar panels to run a couple of small heater/ blower units. It seemed like a big investment ($5,000 to $10,000) to be able to run a couple of space heaters.

READ REUSE RECYCLE [Think GREEN]

checks out, they can get the organ donation surgery on the calendar.

“It’s been a long haul,” Tuohy said. Engler added, “It’s a privilege to do something like this. It is something more people should participate in. More people should think of others instead of themselves.”

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@ presspubs.com.

Brighter sun would, of course, produce more power, but in the end the question is how much of the power produced by the panels can be captured and put to use.

In the case of this homeowner, any extra power was lost, as his battery system would hold only a small amount. Extra power produced by the solar panels was lost as there was no other way to use it or store it. I could see solar and wind power supplementing an existing stable power grid base powered by coal or gas. Expecting solar and wind to be the base of a power grid is unthinkable in reality, as neither of these is a constant source of power and we only have limited storage capability for the power they produce.

My conclusion after seeing this homeowner’s system in operation is that we’re a long way from going “green” even though politicians want to panic us into believing that this needs to be done immediately or sooner.

Robert Kluk Hugo

If every person takes one small step toward being more conscientious of the environment, the collective effort will change the planet.

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COPS&COURTS

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:

• A suspicious slumper reported at 1:38 a.m. Feb. 26 parked in the Festival Foods lot in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. turned out to be a man just needing to “get away from home for a little bit”. After exhibiting no signs of impairment, the male was allowed to leave the lot and go home.

• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies issued four warnings to that many snowmobile operators in the area of 122nd Street N. and Keystone Avenue N. for various violations between 12:41 p.m. and 12:47 p.m. Feb. 26. The violations included driving off the trail and displaying improper registration.

• A caller in the 14000 block of Glenbrook Avenue N. at 3:27 p.m. Feb. 26 delivered a preemptive report that one of his family members was going to report him and that the claims would be false.

The complainant stated this family member had a history of falsely reporting family members and asked for advice about how to stop it. Deputies advised the complainant on how to start the harassment restraining order (HRO) process.

• A resident in the 6000 block of Goodview Trail Court N. at 6:27 p.m. Feb. 26 reported his wife’s former co-worker for sending a vaguely threatening text after she had the co-worker fired last fall. Deputies also advised this complainant about the HRO process.

• A possible burglary report from a business in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 8:53 p.m. Feb. 26 was downgraded to suspicious activity, after the business owner saw an individual on Ring camera who was merely passing the building to go around to the back. The individual was no longer on scene at the time of the report, nor was there any damage indicating an attempted break-in.

• A Minnesota motorist was cited at 6:26 p.m. Feb. 27 in the area of Forest Blvd. N and 140th Street N. for displaying expired registration for more than six months, after being pulled over for tabs that expired in November 2021. During the stop, deputies detected the odor of marijuana, and the driver admitted to having a small amount of it in the cab of his truck and produced a used THC cartridge. A computer check showed no prior insurance or tax evasion, so the pot issues were overlooked.

• A passenger front window was reported broken in at 7:39 a.m. Feb. 28 in the 4000 block of Victor Path N. Nothing was reported stolen.

• An unidentified driver was arrested at 4:39 p.m. Feb. 28 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for driving after revocation, after deputies on patrol conducted a random computer license plate check and discovered the registered owner was revoked.

• A suspicious occupied vehicle reported at 12:53 a.m. March 2 for being parked for an extended period of time in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. turned out to be a woman just hanging out and smoking since her residence does not allow smoking on the property.

• A semi driver reported his vehicle broken down in the right lane in the 4000 block of Frenchman Road at 7:25 a.m. March 2, so that

deputies could be there to provide emergency lights to deter rush hour traffic until the semi could leave the scene.

• A resident in the 12000 block of Heather Avenue N. at 12:26 p.m. March 2 reported credit card fraud by unknown persons that resulted in a loss of $1,407.36.

• A dangerous dog was reported to have bitten another dog at 3:53 p.m. March 2 in the 15000 block of Fanning Drive

N.

• Deputies responded to two suspicious vehicle reports March 3, at 8:56 a.m. in the 10000 block of 122nd Street N. and at 10:17 a.m. in the 12000 block of Keller Avenue N., both associated with a private investigator working in the area.

• A resident in the 4000 block of 162nd Street N. at 12:31 p.m. March 3 reported being harassed by a person upset with her sister over social media posts.

• A motorist of undisclosed identity was arrested for DWI at 5:37 p.m. March 3 in the 15000 block of French Drive N. after deputies were dispatched out to the scene of a motor vehicle accident and determined the driver to be under the influence.

• A suspicious semi was reported parked in the Kwik Trip parking lot in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 7:26 a.m. March 5 was asked to leave because it was clearly not there to make a potato chip delivery.

• A resident in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N. at 10:38 a.m. March 5 reported his ex-wife for not transferring a vehicle title over to him. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies advised the complainant that this was a civil matter and that he should speak to his attorney.

• Two vehicles parked in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue N. were cited during the early morning hours of March 6 for being in violation of the City of Hugo winter parking ordinance, one at 2:22 a.m. and the other at 2:35 a.m.

• A suspicious woman claiming to be from the Minnesota Department of Health was reported at 12:47 p.m. March 6 in the 14000 block of Geneva Avenue N. for showing up at a residence and asking a neighbor why the complainant’s driveway wasn’t plowed. The complainant turned over a picture the neighbor took of the suspicious woman’s badge and license plate number. When deputies conducted a Mobile Data Computer check of the plate, they found it belonged to a business. Deputies then located the car and conducted a traffic stop.

willing.

• A resident in the 12000 block of Keller Avenue N. at 7:36 p.m. March 6 reported his roommate for beginning the process of moving out and acting strangely as she did so. The complainant asked for extra patrols until the roommate completely moved out on March 8.

• Deputies conducted a traffic stop at 7:57 a.m. March 7 in the 5000 block of 140th Street N. for license plate tabs that expired in June 2022.

• A civil dispute in the 12000 block of Keller Avenue was reported at 3:10 p.m. March 7. While deputies were en route to the scene, the parties started to escalate their arguments. However, when deputies arrived on scene, the parties had separated and a plan was set in place for one of the parties to move out that day.

• Deputies rescinded a citation issued to a motorist at 7:49 p.m. March 7 in the 13000 block of Forest Blvd. N., after they discovered the liquor bottle they found during a vehicle search turned out not to be open after all. But the citation was already in the system, so deputies needed to file a cancellation citation.

• Suspicious activity reported at 7:06 a.m. March 8 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. turned out to be nothing.

• Deputies issued a citation that stuck this time at 5:00 p.m. March 8 to a motorist in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N., but for undisclosed offenses. What is known, however, is that the violation did not involve an unopened bottle in a motor vehicle.

• A motorist was issued a written warning at 3:29 p.m. March 9 in the 5000 block of Frenchman Road for displaying tabs that expired in June 2022, if he proceeded to the DMV immediately, without passing “GO”, to obtain current tabs. When deputies conducted

• A resident at an unknown address reported someone attempting to contact her with a spoofed number claiming to be US Bank at 3:37 p.m. March 9. Deputies advised the complainant to make sure all her accounts at the bank were secure.

• Deputies took a report of drugs and childpornography at 3:51 p.m. March 9 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N. and later learned that the caller was in the process of breaking up with her soon-to-be ex-boyfriend and wanted to report his criminal activity.

• An ex-girlfriend in the 4000 block of Evergreen Drive N. was reported at 12:38 p.m. March 10 for changing the locks of a townhouse with all the ex-boyfriend’s property inside. Deputies advised the complainant to get in touch with the homeowners’ association to get his property back. Attempts to contact the ex-girlfriend were unsuccessful.

• Deputies were dispatched out to the scene of a disturbance at 6:08 p.m. March 6 at a church in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. Deputies arrived on scene to offer assistance during the confrontation between church staff and a person camping in their lot. With deputies standing by, church staff asked the male to leave, which he did willingly after not being so

• Deputies issued a harassment restraining order (HRO), as well as a citation for violating same, at 4:21 p.m. March 10 in the area of Leibel Street and 120th Street N.

• Threats were reported at 5:24 p.m. March 11 in the 5000 block of Fairpoint Drive N.

Loretta Harding

Got a ticket? Washington County Court Hearing Office can handle it

People who receive traffic or parking tickets in Washington County have a third option for getting them resolved: The Court Hearing Office.

“Most people think their only options for resolving a ticket are to pay it or to go to court,” said Washington County Court Administrator Deb Lepper. “But the Court Hearing Office offers a third, less stressful, way to discuss your citation.”

Washington County court hearing officers have the authority to work with most traffic offenses and parking

tickets. They can resolve disputes and suspensions, negotiate payment plans and extensions, reduce the severity of the punishment, and even offer options to keep the ticket off your driving record.

“Lots of times, people just don’t know all of the options available to them,” said Washington County Court Hearing Officer Kari Rick. “They’re appreciative that we can walk them through the process and help them resolve the ticket in an informal way.”

Meetings with court hearing officers

are done remotely, from a cell phone or computer. They’re also relatively short, alleviating the need for most people to take time off of work.

The Court Hearing Office doesn’t only provide benefits to people with tickets. It also frees up the court calendar so that judges can handle more serious cases. However, meeting with a hearing officer doesn’t prevent people from going to court if they so choose. Those who don’t like the outcome from the Court Hearing Office have the option to have their case heard

by a judge.

“We really do want to settle cases in the Court Hearing Office,” Lepper said. “But people absolutely retain the right to go to court if they don’t like the outcome from our office.”

To schedule an appointment to have the Washington County Court Hearing Office resolve your ticket, call 651-281-3219 or 800-657-3611 and press 2 at the prompt or send an email to 10thWashingtonHearingOffice@ courts.state.mn.us.

The suspicious woman turned out to be conducting a survey with PATH (Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health), whose inquiries apparently included the health of driveways.

a license plate check later in their shift, they learned that driver had moved with alacrity to buy completely new and updated vehicle plates.

POPULATION RISE: Still demand for housing in Washington County

FROM PAGE 1

Met Council, Lake Elmo’s population is projected to grow to about 18,000 people by 2030 and to more than 22,000 by 2040. That slowdown in the 2030s is expected, since much of the newly sewered areas will likely be developed by then.

Hugo

The cities of Hugo and Forest Lake haven’t seen quite the population surge as Lake Elmo, but they have still experienced an uptick in number of residents and housing options for them.

Per the 2020 Census, Hugo’s population was 15,766, compared to 13,332 in 2010 and 6,363 in 2000. According to Metropolitan Council forecasts, that number is expected to grow to 22,800 in 2030 and 29,000 in 2040.

New construction in Hugo made up 29.4% of total sales in 2022, which represents a 5% increase from 2021. The median home sale price also increased by 25% from 2022 at $440,000.

Hugo saw 315 arms-length residential sales in 2022 compared to 316 in 2021 and 323 in 2020. (An arm’slength transaction is any transaction in which buyers and sellers of a product act independently and have no relationship to each other.)

Forest Lake

Forest Lake, the county’s northwesternmost outpost, grew by 2,236 people from 2010 to 2020.

Chelsea Erickson, a real estate agent with LaBelle Real Estate Group, recalled how Forest Lake had a low housing inventory even before the coronavirus pandemic hit in 2020.

Despite COVID-19, she said the housing market at the time was still active, as people either sought to relocate or complete improvements to their houses

POPULATION GROWTH

while stuck at home.

COVID-related supply chain issues and skyrocketing costs of building materials presented barriers to new construction, though Erickson noted new housing construction in Forest Lake is more recently “in full bloom.”

“We are still historically behind the scene when it comes to having enough housing for the demand,” she said.

At the end of 2022, Erickson said the average sale price in Forest Lake was $410,947, which was up 7.5% from the previous year. Median sale price, meanwhile, was $365,000.

New construction for townhomes tends to be in the $300,000-and-under range, while new construction of single-family homes is generally $400,000 or more. A house in Forest Lake that’s on the market will spend about 35 to 45 days there, as of mid-February, making it a seller’s market.

Recently finished housing structures in Forest Lake haven’t just been single-family homes; multifamily and rental units have been on the rise too.

If this year is anything like previous years, Erickson predicted the housing market will slow down throughout July and August as families become busy with summer activities and take vacation. Once school starts in September, the market tends to pick up again.

Stillwater

Richard McDonough, an associate broker with Sotheby’s International Realty in Stillwater, said “there’s still a ton of demand” for housing in and around the Washington County seat community, which also is a seller’s market.

“It’s great to see all the people in Stillwater, not not only from a tourist standpoint, but coming out here because of all that the St. Croix Valley has to offer,” McDonough said.

Stillwater saw a modest uptick in population from 2010 to 2020 — an increase of 1,169 people — though McDonough called that growth normal.

Since most of the developable land in Stillwater has already been developed, McDonough said there isn’t as much opportunity for new construction to occur. That scarcity of developable real estate has pushed up prices. New single-family homes, for instance, tend to come in at about $500,000 or more, while townhomes fall between $200,000-$300,000.

“$200,000 to $300,000 for a first-time homebuyer for a single-family home, in some respects, is nonexistent for us. We just, unfortunately, have a high price point. And that house at $200,000 or $300,000, in many cases, is a fixer-upper,” he said.

Stillwater also has demand for more rental housing and has seen a subsequent expansion of apartment options in town.

For example, real estate developer Reuter-Walton Development converted the former Chestnut Building in the 200 block of downtown Stillwater into a 61-unit luxury apartment building dubbed The Miller. It’s set to welcome tenants in May.

Ground will break for construction on another 21unit luxury apartment edifice — Chapel Hill Flats — this spring, up the hill from the Lowell Inn on Myrtle Street East.

Median sale prices in Hugo, and Washington County as a whole, continue to increase.

Median home values continues to rise in the city of Hugo.

SCHOOL BRIEF

Unified WBLAHS principal named

The White Bear Lake Area School District has announced that Russell Reetz has been chosen to lead in the role of principal for the unified White Bear Lake Area High School. Reetz comes to the district from Eden Prairie High School, where he currently serves as an associate principal. Throughout his career, he has also served in director of ac-

tivities roles. He formerly served on the Minnesota State High School League Board of Directors and is active with the InsideOut Initiative, an organization through which he mentors athletic directors throughout the country to develop and implement purpose-based athletic programs. He began his career teaching physical education, health and developmental adapted physical education (DAPE), and he spent 12 years coaching football

Washington County, including the city of Hugo, saw a big drop off in new construction starts of residential homes.

and track and field. Reetz will start his time with White Bear Lake Area Schools in July 2023. He will facilitate work being done as the two campuses of the current White Bear Lake Area High School prepare to come together into one unified building in the fall of 2024, when construction at the current WBLAHS - North Campus building is finished.

Russell Reetz

The number of residential home sales hit a peak in 2018. The sales stayed pretty level from 2022 to 2023 in Hugo. Washington County saw its peak of sales in 2022.

Cougar hockey leaders, honors announced

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Five Centennial players were selected for the all-Northwest Suburban Conference team after the Cougars posted a 15-11-1 overall record and 10-6 in conference.

They are senior forwards Peyton Blair, Drake Ramirez, and Brock Carls, senior defenseman Sam Menne, and junior forward Harper Searles. Blair was named Most Valuable Player on the team.

Honorable mentions went to senior Palmer LeMay, juniors Austin Petersen, Heath

Awards listed for pivotal year in Cougar wrestling

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Centennial wrestling coach Chase Steffen announced team awards after what he called a pivotal season for the Cougars, who finished 18-15 in his third season as coach.

The Cougars had their most wins since 2016 and their first section win since 2017. They had three state place-winners in the girls tournament, and seven section place-winners between boys and girls.

“The biggest thing we accomplished this year was elevating our standard,” Steffen told the team and parents at the team’s banquet.

“This is vital to building back the culture and tradition of Centennial wrestling. In 2019, we ended the year with 18 wrestlers. This year, we ended with 47. That is an incredible number.”

Steffen had numerous first-year wrestlers on the squad, with the veterans doing “an excellent job recruiting,” he said, and making the room a welcome place.

Nelson and Gavin Schahn, and sophomore Easton Cody.

Other team awards went to Nelson (most improved), Ramirez (hardest worker), and Searles (most complete).

Top scorers (goalsassists-points) were Searles (20-47-67), Blair (34-32-66), Ramirez (20-25-45), Carls (16-17-33), and Menne (2-28-30). Easton had a .900 save percentage and 2.98 goals-against-average.

Named next year’s captains were Searles, Petersen, Nelson and Nick Carls (alternate).

Named all-Northwest Suburban Conference were senior Owen Hackett and junior Marcus Whiting. Honorable mentions went to freshman Logan Fu, sophomore Jade Lilly, junior Luke Timko, freshman Tyler Cook and junior Joe Streff.

State entrants were Fu, Timko, Whiting, and, for the girls, senior Jaden Ruegsegger, freshman Nora Akpan, and sophomore Alaina

Franco.

Whiting, with 35 wins and 18 pins, got the outstanding wrestler award. Fu got the team’s character and rookie of the year awards. Luke Metcalfe was named most improved. Hackett received the “Petey Award” for dedication, named for the late Cougar coach Steve Peterson.

Bears boys hockey leaders, awards listed

White Bear

Lake’s conference champion team had five all-conference picks, headed by Nolan Roed, named team Most Valuable Player, and Joe Belisle, named conference Defenseman of the Year. The Bears were 20-6 overall and 10-2 in the Suburban East Conference. Named all-SEC squad were senior forwards Aiden Welch and Brady Borges-

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Claire Orth Basketball

Claire Orth, University of North Dakota basketball player from Centennial, scored 17 points in her final college game, a 76-73 loss to Florida International, in the Women’s Basketball Invitational at Lexington, Kentucky, pushing her career total to 1,004 points. Orth had 19 points in the previous game, a 102-99 overtime win over Northern Illinois. The 5-foot-10 guard averaged 11.4 points, 5.0 rebounds and 1.6 steals for the Fighting Hawks (19-13). Orth is a 2018 CHS graduate.

4661 Highway 61 | White Bear Lake northstarbank.com | 651-429-4531

tad, senior defenseman Belisle, junior forward Roed, and sophomore goalie Leo Gabriel. Honorable mentions went to seniors Grady Gallatin and Charlie Olsen, and sophomores Jack Stanius and Will Distad. Other team awards went to Gabriel (top rookie), sophomore Noah Norman (most improved), senior Michael Delaney (most determined), Gallatin (leader-

ship) and Belisle (Herb Brooks). Top scorers (goals-assists-points) were Roed (24-31-55), Welch (21-30-51), Stanius (11-22-33), Borgestad (13-19-32), Belisle (8-16-24) and Olsen (10-10-20). Gabriel posted a .904 save percentage and 2.23 goals-against. Roed also led in scoring last year with 19-21-40.

Bruce Strand

Zephyr girls basketball honors, leaders listed

Four members of Mahtomedi’s firstplace girls basketball team were named to the all-Metro East team — senior guard Sonya Potthoff, junior guard Ella Kletti, sophomore forward Anna Greene and eighth-grade guard Mya Wilson. The Zephyrs were 14-0 in the conference and 20-6 overall.

Potthoff averaged 14.3 points and 4.4 assists; Greene 13.4 points, 6.8 rebounds, and 2.0 assists; Wilson 13.4 points, 7.2 rebounds, and 2.1 steals; and Kletti 12.1 points and 2.4 steals. Meanwhile, Ella Frazier averaged 8.1 points, Sophia Peer led

with 31 blocked shots and averaged 4.5 points and 4.3 rebounds, and Emily Muetzel averaged 8.1 rebounds and 3.9 assists.

Potthoff’s 101 assists were a team record. She finished her career ranking fourth in assists (231), first in free throw shooting (85.9 percent) and fourth in 3-point shooting (38.2 percent).

Team records set this year were 70.0 points per game and 72.5 percent free throw shooting.

Bruce Strand

“Your Financial Partner”

JON NAMYST CONTRIBUTED

Peyton Blair led the Cougars with 34 goals.

BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED

Marcus Whiting was named Cougars outstanding wrestler.

BRUCE STRAND

Nolan Roed

Sonya Potthoff

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Submitting Public Notices

4.

5.

1. Hugo residents Jerry and Marilyn Saunders of Hugo recently celebrated their 77th wedding anniversary. Good Life Senior Living hosted a party to celebrate their special day. — Contributed

2. Residents at Good Life Senior Living in Hugo recently enjoyed baking some Russian tea cakes. — Contributed

3. Hugo resident Katie Munson was able to capture the Northern Lights on camera. — Katie Munson, contributed

4. Oneka Elementary students involved with Bears Outstanding Service Superheroes (B.O.S.S.) Kids wrapped up their school-wide service project; a supply drive for local animal shelters. Students spent time organizing and packing the many toys, treats and other essential items into boxes to be delivered to the shelters. — Contributed

5. The city of Hugo got 9 inches of snow in the April Fools’ snowstorm. — Max Sheridan, contributed.

Quad & Citizen Area Fish Fry

LOCAL FISH FRY

The Quad Community Press and The Citizen would like to invite you to visit our many LOCAL restaurants and churches with fish fry specials during this Lenten season.

EASTER WORSHIP

Holy Week

768548

All are welcome!

welcome!

Holy Thursday at 7 pm Parish Comm Center  Good Friday at 7pm Parish Comm Center  Easter Vigil at 8 pm Parish Comm Center   Easter Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site   Easter Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Comm Center  Easter Egg Hunt follows both Sunday Masses  www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937

Holy Thursday at 7 pm Parish Comm Center  Good Friday at 7pm Parish Comm Center  Easter Vigil at 8 pm Parish Comm Center   Easter Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site   Easter Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Comm Center  Easter Egg Hunt follows both Sunday Masses  www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937

Holy Thursday at 7 pm Parish Comm Center  Good Friday at 7pm Parish Comm Center  Easter Vigil at 8 pm Parish Comm Center   Easter Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site   Easter Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Comm Center  Easter Egg Hunt follows both Sunday Masses  www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937

WHAT’S HAPPENING

ONGOING EVENTS

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY '500’

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday April 6; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited. Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

HUGO SENIOR CLUB

When: No meeting in April; the 3rd Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Monthly meeting followed by afternoon of games. Refreshments served.

Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

CRIBBAGE

When: 12:45 p.m. Monday, April 24; the 4th Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Senior citizens from Hugo and surrounding area are invited to an afternoon of cribbage. Coffee and refreshments served.

Contact: 651-429-4413

DROP-IN 55+ FITNESS CLASSES

When: 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Free fitness classes for Hugoarea adults 55+ by Live 2B Healthy. Class designed for seniors to help improve balance, strength, and flexibility in a group setting. Periodic fitness tests so participants can track their progress.

Contact: Barb @ 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

CURRENT EVENTS

NATURE PLAY: SPRING ARRIVALS

When: 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m. Thursday, April 6

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: Program for kids ages 2-5 includes outdoor play and a story. See registration and cost information online.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

'BUT IT FELL IN MY CART!' TIPS FOR SMARTER PLANT PLANNING

When: 6-7 p.m. Tuesday, April 11

Where: Online

Details: Join guest speaker Diana Grundeen to discuss the difference between plant shopping and plant deigning, and ways to get the most out landscapes. Free.

Contact: vlawmo.org/events/it-fell-mycart-tips-smarter-plant-planning/

NORTH SUBURBAN NEIGHBORS CLUB

SPRING COFFEE

When: 10 a.m. Thursday, April 13

Where: Shoreview Community Center, Fireside Lounge, 4580 Victoria St. N.

Details: NSNC, a non-profit friendship organization for women in the northern suburbs, invites prospective members to learn about their activities.

Contact: 651-247-9601

THE JOLLY POPS CONCERT

When: 5:30-7 p.m. Thursday, April 13

Where: St. Jude of the Lake Catholic School, Mahtomedi

Details: Free children's concert with nationally-known dad band, The Jolly Pops, hosted by Lake Area Discovery Center. Activities, snacks and preschool tours. Bring a stuffed animal. RSVP.

Contact: bit.ly/3E7Y7LC

ANOKA COUNTY SENIOR EXPO

When: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 15

Where: Lord of Life Church, 14501

Nowthen Blvd., Ramsey

Details: Information booths, live entertainment, free pancake breakfast, blood pressure checks, mini massages, eyewear repair and cleaning. Open to seniors and families.

Contact: 763-324-1227

SONGBOOK LIVE: THE WOMEN WHO WROTE THE SONGS

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 15 and 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 16

Where: Lakeshore Players, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Top performers present tribute to iconic female songwriters in a musical celebration.

Contact: 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers.org

RESILIENT YARDS: BLUE THUMB WORKSHOP

When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, April 18

Where: Online

Details: Participants will learn DIY skills for assessing yards and creating a project plan, learn about ways to redirect runoff, select and place native trees and shrubs, design a native garden, incorporate turf alternatives, and more. Registration online.

Time to nominate next Good Neighbor

Nominations for Hugo’s next Good Neighbor of the Year are due May 19. Residents are asked to nominate a neighbor that has made a difference in their life or the lives of their family members. In order to be considered, individuals nominated must live in Hugo. Mail nominations to: Good Neighbor 2019, Katie Riopel, 8089 165th Street N., Hugo, MN, 55038.

It’s time to get rid of unused medications

Area law enforcement agencies are teaming up with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) National Prescription Drug Take Back Day Saturday, April 22, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The day aims to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the general public about the potential for abuse of medications. Check with your local police department for more details.

Tax deadline fast approaching Tuesday, April 18, is the tax filing deadline. If you need more time, you should request an extension of time to file, according to the IRS. To receive an automatic six-month extension of time to file your

Contact: 651-204-6070 or vlawmo.org/ events/resilient-yards-blue-thumbworkshop3/

SIP & LEARN

When: 10:30-11:30 a.m. Wednesday, April 19

Where: The Rookery Activity Center, 7690 Village Dr., Lino lakes

Details: Monthly event for seniors hosted by the Quad Chamber includes educational speakers, fellowship and networking opportunities. Contact: quadareachamber.org

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST: WARBLER IDENTIFICATION

When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, April 19

Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: Free naturalist-led program for those 50+. May include trail hike. Registration not required; equipment provided. Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

return, you must file Form 4868. An extension of time to file is not an extension of time to pay. You may be subject to a late payment penalty on any tax not paid by the original due date of your return.

American Pickers will film in Minnesota

American Pickers will film episodes for the History Channel hit television series throughout Minnesota in June. American Pickers is a documentary series that explores the fascinating world of antique “picking.” The hit show follows skilled pickers in the business as they hunt for America’s most valuable antiques.

As they hit the back roads from coast to coast, the Pickers are on a mission to recycle and rescue forgotten relics. Along the way, they want to meet characters with amazing stories and fun items.

They hope to give historically significant objects a new lease on life while learning a thing or two about America’s past along the way. The Pickers are always looking to discover something they’ve never seen before. They are ready to find extraordinary items and hear fascinating tales about them.

The show is looking for leads and would love to explore your hidden treasure. If you have a unique item, a story to tell and are ready to sell, they want to hear from you. The Pickers do not pick stores, flea markets, malls, auction businesses, museums or

FAT TIRE BIKING

When: 3-5 p.m. Wednesday, April 19

Where: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve, 7373 Main St., Lino Lakes

Details: Introductory class for novice bike riders. Registration and cost information online.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

MEDICARE 101

When: 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 19

Where: Encore Assisted Living and Memory Care, 720 Mahtomedi Ave., Mahtomedi

Details: Free educational speaker series with Tom Ostdiek. Light refreshments provided. RSVP.

Contact: 651-343-1787

anything open to the public. If interested, send your name, phone number, location and description of the collection with photos to: americanpickers@cineflix. com or call 646-493-2184.

Masons host dine-in, drive-thru brunch

The Forest Lake Masons will host a spring dine-in or drive-thru brunch from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Sunday, April 30 at the Forest Lake Masonic Lodge, located at 119 8th Ave. SE. Attendees have the choice of pancakes and sausage or an European breakfast wrap. Funds raised will be given to the Chisago County Sheriff’s Office Foundation. The masons will match any donations. For more information, visit forestlakemasons.com.

Health screening coming to Hugo

Residents can learn about their risk for cardiovascular disease, stroke, osteoporosis, diabetes, kidney and thyroid disorders, and other chronic, serious conditions with a screening by Life Line Screening. An event will be held May 6 at Hugo City Hall, located at 14669 Fitzgerald Ave. N.

Registration is required. For more information about the screenings available and cost, call 877-2371287 or visit lifelinescreening.com.

FILE

Anoka County Parks is hosting an introductory fat tire biking class for novice bike riders April 19. See calendar listing for more information.

Looking fo r a roommate I am a nonsmoker educated, no kids under 25, working loca lly (WBL). Have 2 tiny adult dogs Willing to help with housework cooking, ch ild care (in the evenings). Please reach out at smile4glo @y ahoo.com w/ contact information.

We buy old stuff! Antique to contemporary Collectables jewelry, coin s, holiday, advertising, spor ts, silver gold, estate s and much more GET CASH FOR CLUTTER! Call Britt & Ja y at 651-252-7919

EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Ho using Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preferen ce limitation or discriminat ion based on race co lo r, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such preferen ce, limitation or discriminat ion.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal cu stod ians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not kn owingly accept any ad vertising for real esta te which is in violation of the law. Our readers ar e hereby informed that all dw ellings advertised in this newsp ap er are available on an equal oppor tunity basis To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9 777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

NOW HIRING DRIVERS

Guaranteed minimum salary up to $20 per hour depending on shift

651-653-9845

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SEASONAL MAINTENANCE WORKERS POSITIONS

White Bear Township is accepting applications for Seasonal Maintenance

Worker positions to assist in routine maintenance work including, but not limited to, the following: general maintenance of parks, streets, water, storm water, sanitary sewer, etc. Up to 40 hours per week, Monday-Friday, 7 am to 3:30 pm (subject to change between Memorial Day – Labor Day).

Scrap meta l appliance pick up 65 1-329-0815

•

3-5 days/wk Must be thorough cleaner! Maids

•

Salary starting at $20.00/hour. A valid driver’s license with a good driving record is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass pre-employment drug screening.

Applications are available Monday – Friday, 7 am – 4:30 pm, at Township Administrative Office, 1281 Hammond Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110 or online at “http:// www.whitebeartownship.org”

Application deadline: Open until positions filled.

•

PRESS PUBLICATIONS IS SEEKING A

Staff Writer

Press Publications in White Bear Lake is seeking a staff writer to join its award-winning team. As a staff writer-reporter you will be responsible for coordinating editorial content and layout for our newspapers, website and social media pages. In addition to writing stories, the job will require attending meetings, taking photographs, assisting with the layout process, coordinating, writing occasional editorial columns and maintaining a positive relationship with the community at large. We are looking for a candidate who is an efficient writer, passionate about local community news and great at time managment. Candidates should have a degree in journalism (or a related field) and have relevant experience. To apply, please send resume, cover letter and three writing samples to quadnews@presspubs.com.

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Deck Cleaning

K. Olson Construction is owned by Kevin Olson of Scandia MN. Kevin has been in remodeling and new construction since 1985 and became a licensed contractor in 1995. They provide new home construction, also specializing in room additions, basement finishing, kitchen remodels and finish carpentry.

K. Olson Construction provides full service contracting from start to finish or will come into a project and work with the homeowner and do a portion of the work. Any successful remodeling project requires a detailed plan and timeline, as well as attention to detail. Kevin is a contractor that is on site doing the work and controlling the entire process from start to finish. For more information please visit their website at www.kolsonconstruct.com

can be reached at 612-868-6837 or Kolson40@frontiernet.net

LifePoint church will celebrate 150th anniversary and change of ownership

MAPLEWOOD — It’s one last hurrah for LifePoint Church in Maplewood, which will celebrate its 150th anniversary this April. After that, the church will close its doors as it prepares to become the 12th campus of Eagle Brook Church.

Back in 1873, the church began as First Swedish Baptist, and changed names several times over the course of its history. Over the years, the church has had a strong connection to Bethel University and its seminary school. In its heyday the church served a congregation of more than 1,000 people.

In recent years, the church has opened its doors as a worship space to several different intercultural congregations as part of its mission of community. Under Pastor Dan Munson, who was at first hired on as an interim pastor, the church made connections with the Karen community—a minority ethnic group from Myanmar. Minnesota is one of the biggest diaspora communities of Karen living in the U.S. after many refugees fled from the political persecution in their homelands over the last few decades.

“A lot of these kids remember seeing people killed, seeing people beat up,” Munson said. In 2008 the church began making an intentional effort to reach out to refugee families, and began teaching children from Karen families in Sunday school and through the children’s ministry.

Munson was one of the founders of a nonprofit, Anchored Ministries, designed to help support refugees who came to the community with very few resources. Munson was able to secure bus transportation for youth, as well as other youth programming to help fill the gaps and help kids from refugee families be successful in school.

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Anthony Hotakainen, of Hugo, and his friend Joey Schwartz, of New Jersey, are in the running to win the Bentleyville theme song contest. The two freshmen at Elon University are majoring in production and recording arts. Hotakainen is a Lakes International Language Academy graduate.

Bentleyville in Duluth put the call out for theme songs.

Hotakainen and Schwartz’s song, “Millions of Lights,” is all about the adventure of going to Bentleyville, everything from the experience of going with your family and friends

MDAN ads to run ONE TIME, the week beginning 4/2/2023 Metro

LifePoint soon became the scene of Karen-language church services, which eventually drew a congregation of more than 500. In addition to Karen, LifePoint has been host to services for Nepalese, Thai, Hmong and Spanish-speaking communities.

However, LifePoint, like many churches, was hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Our church is experiencing what a lot of churches are experiencing, in that we’ve seen the numbers of the church and attendance dwindle for quite some time,” said LifePoint Board Chair Ross Rud. “Eagle Brook is in the same denomination as us, so God is really at work there. We reached out to them and said, ‘Here’s a concern we have with our church, do you think you might be interested in bringing Eagle Brook here?’ After conversation, the answer was yes.”

The church community has expressed mixed feelings about the change. While many are hopeful for the future, it is not necessarily an easy or comfortable transition for everyone.

“Eagle Brook does wonderful work; they preach the gospel and reach great numbers of people, but there’s still sadness as we lose our relationships within the church and all the ministry we were doing,” said a longtime member of the congregation who wished to remain anonymous. “I’m 85, I don’t know what I’m going to do or where I’m going to go. Some are enthusiastic, others are heartbroken,” the anonymous source added.

Munson said that all of the partner communities have found new homes for the time being, but many are hopeful that Eagle Brook may be able to continue to offer support in some of the same ways and keep

to enjoying hot cocoa and cookies. Their song made it into the top five, and now they need your votes. To listen to the top five songs, visit https://hot98duluth.com/ bentleyville-theme-song/ and vote for your favorite. Voting runs from April 3-16.

the same relationships thriving.

“When they get the place remodeled, there’s a good chance they may have a strong outreach to these same communities that we’re reaching out to,” Munson said. Several other organizations, including the Karen church community, offered to buy the property. “But we wanted it to be a place that’s full and that the resources of the building are used to the max for the gospel,” Munson said. “This particular group will do this. We got adopted, is what we’re saying, by a church that will continue the vision.”

After LifePoint passes into the hands of Eagle Brook leaders, the church will close for renovation and reopen to the community sometime later this year, hopefully by Christmastime.

“There’s a large degree of excitement about what the future holds,” Rud said.

April 18 is the official 150th anniversary, but since the church will change ownership on April 20, church leaders wanted to set up the celebration a few days early.

The 150th anniversary celebration will be held at the 10 a.m. Sunday, April 16, service at LifePoint Church, 2220 Edgerton St. Several pastors from the church’s past have been invited to speak and share their memories, and Munson promised lots of music. Anyone who has ever sung in the choir will be invited to come up and sing. They can find the sheet music by reaching out to LifePoint beforehand, or join in on the day of the celebration. Learn more at https:// www.lifepointmn.org.

Jackie Bussjaeger

HUGO — Both water and sanitary sewer rates will increase for 2023.

Finance Director Anna Wobse explained that in order for the city to meet its water budget, a water base charge increase of 6% is needed for all customers. The base charge will increase from $34 per quarter to $36 per quarter.

The largest expense item in the sewer department is for sewage treatment. These charges are imposed by and paid to Metropolitan Council Environment Services (MCES). For 2023, MCES charges will amount to

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If they win the contest, they will get to record their song with Pinnacle Pointe Studio. The song will then be played at the beginning of the evening at Bentleyville. They would also win a $100 gift card to Silos and a one-night stay at Silos.

Water, sanitary sewer rates increase for 2023

$848,098, an increase of $130,177, or 18%. In 2022, the city sustained a 20% increase from MCES and city staff anticipates continuing yearly fee increases from MCES for sewage treatment.

Due to those increases and lift station rebuilds, Wobse said an increase in both the base portion of the rate schedule and also the amount charged for metered water use (flow) is needed.

Residential sewer charges will continue to be based on water used in the winter quarter (January, February and March). For residential

customers, the base amount per SAC unit will increase by 13% to $69 per quarter, up from $61 per quarter. Commercial, industrial and institutional customers will also see a base amount increase per SAC unit of 13%, for a base charge of $21.50 per quarter, up from $19 per quarter. Usage fees will also see an increase of 13%. Residential flow in excess of 9,000 gallons will increase to $2.09 per thousand gallons, up from $1.85 per thousand gallons.

Commercial, industrial and institutional flow in excess of 3,000 gallons

will increase to $2.09 per thousand gallons, up from $1.85 per thousand gallons. For an average single‐family residential sewer user, that means the proposed sewer rates would result in a yearly sewer bill of $290, versus $256 at the previous rates.

Overall, an average single family residential utility customer would be charged $538 a year for both water and sewer services. That equates to $134.50 per quarter, or $45 each month.

Shannon Granholm

The best way to get insight into your local community:

CONTRIBUTED

Joey Schwartz and Anthony Hotakainen’s song “Millions of Lights” has made it to the top five in the Bentleyville theme song contest.

Postage prices, subscription rates increase

BY TOM STANGL CONTRIBUTING EDITOR

The trend of rising winter (and summer) United States Postal Service (USPS) prices continues for the general public and commercial users. Increases include first-class letters, by 5%; postcards, 9%; marketing mail, 6.25%; and periodicals, 7.6%.

The increase, one of two planned for 2023, follows stamp increases of 13.5% during 2022.

Due to the postage increase, Press Publications and other U.S. periodicals are raising home delivery subscription rates to coincide with postage increases. Press Publications subscriptions will increase by $2 per year. National Newspaper

Association (NNA) incoming chair John Galer, publisher of the Hillsboro (Illinois) Journal-News, said the increases are daunting. The increase added to a price hike of around 7% from July 2022. The total impact of increased mailing costs has risen into the range of 15% in a single year.

“We understand the damage that inflation inflicts upon the U.S. economy and, as loyal customers of the Postal Service in our industry for more than 200 years, we try to take actions to help USPS control its own expenses,” Galer said. “But price increases of this magnitude will hurt newspapers as well as the Postal Service. This is not the time to drive business away if the Postmaster General’s

goal is to fill his mail trucks and his mailbags, as he told us.”

“We value our subscribers and don’t make these decisions lightly,” said Press Publications’ publisher Carter Johnson. Johnson added subscribers get unlimited access to the paper’s website, including the e-edition.

The cost of a local subscription is $32 yearly.

Delivery of the paper is 75 cents per issue with the new rates. Newsstand price is $1 per issue.

Home delivery represents a 25% savings from the newsstand price.

Tom Stangl is publisher of Sentinel Publications, an affiliated company of Press Publications

• The city will pay Northeast Youth and Family Services (NYFS) $16,275 to provide social services to residents this year.

• A conditional use permit (CUP) has been amended for Bradley Investments/DART Portable Storage located at 16028 Forest Blvd. N. The amendment includes items related to business operations and the type of exterior storage. The property is 20 acres and includes a 7,500-square-foot office building and three accessory buildings.

• WSB will update the master plan for the Bernin property located along the shores of Oneka Lake. The council has agreed to pay $3,600 to WSB to update the 2004 plan to incorporate park amenities and other changes. A community workshop will be held on the topic for public input in the future.

• Water and sanitary sewer rates will increase for 2023. (see “Water, sanitary sewer rates increase for 2023” on page 17.)

• The Highway 61 visioning study by Washington County, MnDOT and the city of Hugo continues. A traffic, land use and engineering

analysis along with community input will help identify the longrange vision for the corridor that will be used to define future improvements and guide a potential jurisdictional transfer of the roadway from MnDOT to Washington County. The goals of the study include items such as evaluation of intersection improvements, defining access points, and determining rightof-way needs for the corridor for a possible expansion of the roadway. A public open house was held earlier this week.

• Members of the City Council will attend the Metro Cities annual meeting Wednesday, April 19, at the Roseville Skating Center. Some council members may also attend the League of Minnesota Cities annual conference June 21-23 at the Duluth Entertainment Convention Center.

The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, April 17, at City Hall.

Shannon Granholm

60% off

10

STRONG AS STEEL WITH THE ATTRACTIVE LOOK OF VARIOUS ROOF STYLES

HUGO BITS & PIECES

SPECIALS ARE

Monday $7.00 6oz burger & Fries (comes with lettuce, tomato, & raw onions)

Tuesday Deep fried tacos $3.00 for 1 or 3 for $8.00 or taco salad for $11.00

Wednesday $8.00 Goulash with Garlic Bread stick

Thursday $9.00 Chicken stir fry

Friday $14.00 Fish fry after 5 ( 3 pieces of fish,Fries,veggie, and a roll)

Saturday $14.00 BBQ ribs after 5 (1/2 rack , veggie, and potato)

Sunday Chef’s choice

Waiting Child

Darian,14, is talkative, outgoing, helpful and funny. He enjoys cooking, playing video games, dodgeball, fishing, dirt biking, and four-wheeling. Darian would like to live in a rural community with a “country style” atmosphere. He loves animals and has a dog that he is hoping to take with him to his adoptive home. Darian would do best in a home where he is the only child. Following adoption, Darian would need to maintain contact with his siblings and birthparents.

adventure he can.

Attention Lab lovers, we have a special boy waiting for you. Meet Finnley, a highenergy, toy-obsessed, lover of life. Finnley is about 4 years old, and was surrendered locally. He weighs 70 pounds and he is friendly and affectionate to everyone he meets. He is also social with other animals — dogs and cats alike. Finnley is house trained and knows his basic commands,

but is eager to learn more.

Being a typical Labrador retriever, Finnley has a very high energy level. He loves to be outside where he can run and explore, so a home with a securely fenced yard would be best. Finnley also likes to go on walks, but would do well with some formal leash training. Additionally, he loves to go for car rides and on any

Finnley is waiting for a family who will give him the time and training he needs to be his best. If you are interested in learning more about Finnley or adopting him, fill out an application at www. ruffstartrescue.org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.