The Citizen

Working with wood helps traumatized cope

Friday night lights to debut in 2024

BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER

Varsity football is moving. The school district got its wish to expand seating at its new stadium to accommodate the fans. It was never a question of “if”, but “when” varsity games would move to the new facility at the unified campus.

Foreseeing that football fans would outnumber the 1,500-seat-capacity stadium, the district asked the city to amend its conditional use permit (CUP) to add another 3,500 seats.

That was the plan all along, explained Tim Wald, assistant superintendent for finance and operations. “We’re just doing it earlier than we anticipated.”

The district spokesman said pre-2019 referendum, football was expected to remain at South Campus until they could bring larger events to the new high school. “In 2018-’19, we didn’t anticipate we’d have the footprint to build the amenities for parking and other things (concessions and restrooms, for example). That changed when the district acquired more property (from people selling their homes),” Wald said. “What hasn’t changed is our desire to move football to the new campus.”

There were neighbors opposed to the expansion due to traffic concerns and noise, mostly, and the mayor gave both sides time to speak at the April 11 City Council meeting.

Mariner High School grad Jeff Taylor, class of ’79, encouraged council to delay approval. “My concern

SEE STADIUM, PAGE 6

North metro school districts see fewer applicants

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

One thing most school districts can agree on is how difficult it has become to find teachers.

Four years after the COVID-19 pandemic broke out, districts across the nation are still feeling the effects. Many districts are facing teacher shortages, as fewer people decide to pursue careers in education.

The 2023 Teacher Supply and Demand Report shows the ongoing trend of district struggles to retain current educators and recruit new individuals to

the profession in Minnesota. A majority of districts reported being “somewhat significantly” or “very significantly” impacted by the teacher shortage (84%) and substitute teacher shortage (89%). The report also states that nearly one-third of new teachers leave teaching within their first five years in the profession.

Centennial Schools

Currently, Centennial Schools has approximately 20 open teaching positions.

“There are simply not that many candidates for teaching positions. We (recently) attended the Minnesota Job

SEE AREA SCHOOL DISTRICTS, PAGE 13

DEBRA NEUTKENS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Russ Hanes, left, and Greg Freeman hold a challenge coin flag made in a woodworking class. Note their Invisible Wounds Projects (IWP) sweatshirts. Every line on the map represents a group they work to support: green is military; blue, law enforcement; red, fire; gold, dispatch; white, EMS and frontline medical staff; and gray represents corrections. See story on page 3.

We Do the Heavy Lifting for You!

Nominate your favorites for ‘Best Of’ Contest

Something exciting is returning! This week, nominations are open for the biggest and fastest-growing Readers’ Choice Best of the Press Contest in the region. Voting grew by more than 35% last year, topping 30,000 votes. Thank you, readers.

Who do you want to see listed on the 2023 ballot? This is your opportunity to support your favorite local business, artist, teacher, professional and more by nominating them in one of over 100 categories.

The seven groups of categories are eating and drinking, arts and entertainment, health and fitness, local services, shopping, and sports and recreation.

Each year, we add new categories to the contest that are requested by readers and important to the area.

These include — the best Italian restaurant, lasagna, streaming service, sports movie, tree service, exterior painting service, exterminator, ski

slopes, dog park, disc golf course, dermatology, Pho soup, and chow mein, as well as your favorite Minnesota professional sports team.

“This is a great opportunity for a community member to vote for what they love in those categories in the surrounding communities,” said Patty Steele, director of marketing at Press Publications.

“It’s a great way for our readers to learn what different businesses have that they are the best in.”

To nominate, simply go to presspubs. com/shoreview/bestof and recommend your favorite place or person.

You can nominate once each day, and

can nominate for one or all of the categories.

The easy, online voting tool also helps you fill in the full name and address. However, please remember to be as complete as possible when filling in information.

For example, recommend your favorite waitstaff person, but be sure to include the name of the restaurant with their name.

The nomination period runs from Wednesday, May 3, to Friday, May 19. Check your local contest for exact times and dates. You will see plenty of announcements in the newspapers and online, reminding you to submit your nominations.

After the nomination period

concludes, we will go through each of the categories to select the five businesses or people who captured the most nominations. They will make it onto the final ballot. We also will look at the nominations to make sure they are valid. Categories that do not receive two or more nominations will not move on to the voting period.

After the ballot is finalized, readers will be able to vote online for their favorites once a day beginning Wednesday, July 12. Once live, the official final ballot can be found at presspubs.com/citizen/bestof. Check your local contest for exact times and dates.

The contest is conducted exclusively online: no paper ballots will be used. After voting closes, results will be tallied and winners announced in the fall.

WOODWORKING: Classes improve lives and mental health of frontline heroes

BY DEBRA NEUTKENS STAFF WRITER

When someone is hurting and in a dark place, ex-cop Greg Freeman shows them how to make a pen from wood. He then instructs them to use the pen to sign all their important papers.

“It’s very therapeutic,” said Freeman, who retired with a medical disability after serving 31 years with the Minneapolis Police Department. His disability was diagnosed as post-traumatic-stress-disorder, or PTSD. And he’s decided it’s his mission in life to help others significantly touched by trauma by teaching them woodworking.

When word spread that Freeman had left the department due to PTSD, others who were struggling reached out. He invited anyone who needed to talk to a wood shop in his garage. “I noticed people were stressed out. I’d tell them, ‘you feel out of control, so we’re going to make a pen and you’re going to use it to sign all your important papers.’ We’d talk while working on the lathe. I could watch their stress come down.”

When his garage became too small for more advanced projects, Freeman found White Bear Makerspace, a do-ityourself shop that offers memberships to people who want to make things. The pieces on display are beautiful; some are for sale, some go to charities. Many of the wooden treasures, from coffee tables to cutting boards, are made from scrap: throwaway, cracked or warped wood. “It is a metaphor for people’s lives,” Freeman said.

The former officer’s story isn’t pretty. “The average person has one or two critical incidents in a lifetime,” Freeman noted. “Law enforcement officers have over 800 in 20 years. I don’t know how many shootings or homicides I’ve seen, how many dead kids or how many autopsies. I can’t remember.”

Freeman was a patrol officer in the Third and Fourth precincts, worked in a gang unit, and served as an assault, conspiracy and homicide investigator. He was point man in the Top 100 Unit that focused on the most violent people in Minneapolis. He was also a peer counselor from 2012 to 2020, when he decided he’d had enough. His job, his

reality, was something he couldn’t do anymore.

There is still a stigma regarding PTSD. For Freeman, retiring early felt like failing. “I almost made it, but I got to the point where I noticed I didn’t care anymore.”

He had a serious heart-to-heart with himself, Freeman said, and realized he had changed. “My wife started noticing things. People kept asking me why I was angry. I was sleeping two to three hours a night.” It was tough to leave, he admitted. “You’re no longer part of something, so you sit home by yourself.”

When he realized what woodworking

did for his mental health, Freeman decided to reach out to the Invisible Wounds Project (IWP).

Founded by Russ Hanes, IWP is a Forest Lake nonprofit that works to improve the lives and mental health of our frontline heroes. Like Freeman, Hanes suffered PTSD from almost two decades in public safety, corrections and dispatch. He looked for help after leaving his career behind and when he couldn’t find it, he started IWP.

IWP offers therapy services and

that includes all-expenses-paid woodworking classes. Hanes figures they held about 200 woodworking therapy sessions in 2022.

“The program at Makerspace has been incredibly successful with people who are struggling, who may only leave their house to come here,” Hanes said.

Heroes Helping Heroes also got wind of the woodworking classes and has sent clients their way. The organizations will ask Freeman to call those who need help. “We have a conversation, some long, some short. And they come in (to the class),” he said. “Some come in with physical issues, not just PTSD. If they want to talk about the dead babies they’ve seen, they can. They have permission to talk about anything. My rule is what we talk about in the shop stays in the shop.”

Not everyone is unemployed or diagnosed with a disorder like PTSD. Some don’t want a diagnosis if they’re working because employers might think they’re crazy. Some are taking classes to “inoculate themselves,” Hanes said. “We try to catch them upstream before they go over the waterfall.

“We’ve had several people who have come through here say that if they hadn’t, they would be dead. Suicide is the No. 1 killer of first responders,” according to Hanes.

Unfortunately, Makerspace closed April 29 and the 10,000-square-foot building at 5966 Hwy. 61 is for sale. Owners Tom and Theresa Lendway said they plan to move the woodshop to the Roseville/Midway area with the new location opening this fall. The property is listed at $1.029 million.

Freeman and Hanes are hoping someone will step up and decide their project is worthwhile enough to help fund a new space. Hanes is confident he can get grants to buy woodworking equipment, but they need a physical building to put it in, preferably in the northeast metro.

resources to Minnesota’s military, first responders and frontline medical staff, corrections, dispatch and their families. Its focus is providing therapeutic outlets

“There’s still a lot of work to do,” Freeman said. “I’ve had people come in here goober-snot crying. Now they’re walking around smiling, laughing and talking to other people. There’s a glimmer of hope.”

The City of Hugo produces safe, clean drinking water for people who work in, visit and live in Hugo. Our mission is to produce and distribute safe, aesthetically pleasing water in sufficient quantity and a cost effective manner to meet customer needs and to be effective stewards of the public infrastructure. Our product consistently meets higher standards than those set by local, state and federal regulatory agencies. Please visit our website to view the latest consumer confidence report on file. This report can be viewed at www.ci.hugo.mn.us/ccr2022. Please contact 651-762-6301 for a paper copy.

PHOTOS BY DEBRA NEUTKENS | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Greg Freeman stands behind an ax throwing board.

Making wooden pens like this is where it all started for Greg Freeman.

Wood projects range from cribbage, corn hole and ax-throwing boards, to charcuterie trays.

Support fried rice

Publisher’s View

Carter Johnson

Our  readers clearly have insider information when it comes down to who’s serving up one of my favorite meals fried rice. Now it the time to pick your favorite local restaurants, services, retailers, professionals, establishments organizations, and more through the Best of The Press contest. As you know, we launched this contest four years ago and I am still looking to find more fried rice options. So we need your help. Go to Presspubs.com and start nominating your favorites. Since the contest launched, our readers votes have more than doubled. Best of the press is a real thing. I’m seeing these winners on billboards magazines, newspaper, social media and TV. It is because of your nominations that we drill down this year’s Best of the Press in your community. The nomination period runs from Wednesday, May 3, to Friday, May 19. Check your local contest for exact times and dates. The voting period will run July 12 through Aug. 6, so vote early and often. Unlike elections we want you to vote every 24 hours. With the votes in the Best of the Press, nominees rise up to the top of in their respective categories. As we pull together as a community, please remember our local businesses are in many cases dealing with labor shortages and inflation. Basic materials like napkins, eggs and meat products are still trending higher than normal. Please take this into consideration and don’t let a factor outside a nominee’s control overshadow your vote.

As you know Best of the Press is the laser-focus on supporting our small, local businesses, merchants, doctors, services and dining establishments to name a few. This year we have well over 100 categories. Voting is expected to grow again. Please help our local businesses by casting your votes. Check out our online ballot and begin selecting your favorite choices from best celebration or festival to the best local sports team and everything in between. The first time you use the website it will ask you to register and provide an email address. We do this to ensure people vote only once per day. Happy voting and we look forward to celebrating ourBest of the Press winners.

Has any parent had a freshman from college return home for the summer? Do you have words of advice? My wife and I spent an entire meal talking through the summertime scenario. Both kids will have an expectation to be working and saving. We hope one can secure an internship while the other will pick his work between summer school and summer camps. While sitting with my parents for dinner, I asked for their recommendations, even though I was raised by them and watched two of my three siblings struggle and suffer. I thought I surely knew what they were going to say. It would sound like that of Jean Shepherd in the famous movie “The Christmas Story.” I could totally see a list created for every day—make sure they are in before midnight as nothing good happens after midnight, the early bird gets the worm, make sure they wake up at a certain time, make sure they finish their chores no matter what time it is, demand it’s done if you ask, make them pay for gas and groceries, do laundry, help around the house and kitchen, and maybe many would have to pay rent. But what came out of their mouth was nothing of the short. It was as if I knew nothing about parenting. They said treat her like an adult and leave her alone. So, if you see me out doing all the yard work, filling up all the cars at the gas station, it’s okay. It’s going to be alright. It’s only one summer.

Carter Johnson is publisher of Press Publications.

Cryptocurrency scams threat to county residents

From gift cards to lottery winnings, a “warrant for your arrest” or a loved one in jail, scammers will stop at nothing to get their hands on your money.

Cryptocurrency-related scams have become increasingly common in Washington County, and the Sheriff’s Office investigations unit has been working diligently to educate the public and provide resources to avoid having resident fall victim.

Cryptocurrency, just as is bitcoin, is a digital or virtual currency that uses cryptography to secure and verify monetary transactions. Unlike traditional currencies that are issued and regulated by the government and banks, cryptocurrencies are decentralized and operate independently of any government or financial institution. Cryptocurrency has gained legitimate popularity with the potential for high returns, making it an attractive option for investors.

• Limited to 350 words.

• Submissions must Include a full name, address and daytime phone number for verification.

• Letter writers must live, work or have another connection to Press Publications coverage area.

• Letter writers are limited to six letters per year and

Cryptocurrencies can be used for online transactions, as a store of value, or as an investment.

As the popularity of cryptocurrency continues to rise, so do cryptocurrency-related scams. These scams come in many forms, and they can be difficult to detect for those who are not familiar with the cryptocurrency market. Washington County victims are typically contacted by telephone by individuals claiming to be investment managers or using other traditional scam tactics to request cryptocurrency transactions. Victims of cryptocurrency crimes are generally instructed to create an online cryptocurrency account or told to deposit money into cryptocurrency ATMs, usually located at specific locations throughout the metro. Money lost in cryptocurrency scams is highly untraceable, ending up in accounts overseas within seconds.

Protect yourself and your information by being cautious when answering calls from unknown numbers. Avoid giving out any personal information over the telephone, and trust your instincts. Scammers often impersonate reputable organizations, such as banks, government agencies, or cryptocurrency ex-

THE CITIZEN | LETTER GUIDELINES

at least four weeks must lapse between publication. Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters.

• Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues are not guaranteed publication.

• Repeat letters by the same writer about the same subject matter will not be published.

changes, to gain trust. They also tend to use high-pressure tactics to convince you to send them money or share your sensitive information, using fear or urgency to make you act quickly. It’s wise to consider any unsolicited form of contact asking for money or personal details, including those related to cryptocurrency, as a potential scam. If you’re interested in investing in cryptocurrency, seek out a reliable financial manager or investment firm with expertise in this field.

These scams can have a devastating impact on individuals and families. The Sheriff’s Office is committed to helping those affected. The Sheriff’s Office works with the community to raise awareness about the risks associated with cryptocurrencies and help prevent these types of scams from occurring in the future. For questions about these scams or to report a suspected case of fraud, contact the Sheriff’s Office non-emergency dispatch center at 651-439-9381 or email sheriff@co.washington.mn.us.

• Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published.

• Submissions containing facts not previously published in The Citizen must be accompanied by factual verification.

• All letters are subject to editing.

• Deadline is 5 p. m., Wednesday of the week prior to publication.

• To submit a letter, e-mail it to citizennews@presspubs. com, fax it to 651-429-1242 or mail or deliver it to Press Publications, 4779 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake, MN 55110.

Anthony Jaring is a detective with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office

Anthony Jaring

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

Common sense

I read what is in the Minnesota Senate Republican Caucus (MNSRC) public safety plan for 2023.

The proposals do make sense. For example, increasing penalties for straw purchasers, or making the judicial system more transparent when it comes to sentencing. There is a lot to be said for the plan.

House Republican Public Safety Lead Rep. Paul Novotny says, “These common sense proposals will keep our communities and neighborhoods safe.” However, where I become mystified is when something like banning AR15s and other military style weapons does not fall under the category of a “common sense” proposal.

Other proposals like red flag laws, or just outright make making it harder to obtain a gun, or requirements for safe storage or anything that would curtail the flow of guns into our society should be common sense.

The Second Amendment has become a religious, fundamentalist force. Proponents are no longer operating in the field of common sense. The lawyer for the man who shot and killed a woman who had mistakenly driven into his driveway described him as a “normal human being.” The concept of the responsible gun owner is grossly overshadowed by the reality of human fallibility.

We will never be safe in our communities and neighborhoods until the outrageous flow of guns into the hands of gun consumers is curtailed. That is only common sense.

Will Perry Hugo

Unnecessary roadblocks

When I learned that Minnesota’s lawmakers are considering implementing a politically run price-affordability board that would influence the medication market in our state, I was extremely disappointed. While this doesn’t seem like a big deal, the board could actually have devastating impacts on access to care, which is a risk many cannot afford to take.

As someone who is dependent on specific medications that my doctor has prescribed, I don’t want to have a politician later decide if this medication should remain available to me, and force me to have to go on an alternative treatment.

This board could decide the value of certain medications over others, and this doesn’t seem like the right policy our state officials should be so focused on.

If changes to our health care system are their top legislative focus, then they should look at the actions of PBMs or pharmacy benefit managers. PBMs routinely create barriers to care by deciding where a patient can pick up their medication or even if they can access that specific prescription at all.

All of these third-party groups are creating unnecessary roadblocks for patients in our health care system. If the Minnesota Legislature wants to actually help us, then it should oppose the addition of an affordability board, and also reform the complications pharmacy benefit managers create.

Cindy Bohm Centerville

WEEKLY WAG

Wynifred, also known as Winnie, is a young, 45-pound shepherd mix. One-year-old Winnie arrived at Ruff Start Rescue from a local shelter. She is a sweet, lovable, affectionate girl who has a lot of puppy energy. She is very playful, and would do well in a home with another dog companion. Winnie is social with other dogs and loves all of the people she meets, too.

Winnie is still working on her house training, but she is doing very well, according to her foster. Winnie also continues to do well learning her basic commands. She is treat-motivated, always ready to learn, and eager to please. Winnie is a young work in progress and can be trained to be a perfect partner and family member.

• Six employees have been hired for seasonal positions within the public works department. Three seasonal workers, including Martin Jorgenson, Sam Nelson and Madison Siebenaler, will return from last year. The three new employees are Alex Lohmann, Adler Siebenaler and William Heise. Seasonal public works employees assist with mowing, garbage/ litter removal, park maintenance, boulevard maintenance and general public works maintenance.

• Administrative intern Joe Hinzman will stick around for another six months. He started in October 2022 and will stay through October 2023. His hourly rate of pay is $19.25.

• Chain of Lakes Rotary will host its annual Chain of Giving event at the Peder Pedersen Pavilion May 6. (See brief for more information.)

• T he Bayport American Legion has donated $5,000 to the Hugo Fire Department from pulltab proceeds for equipment and training.

• Blacksmith Lounge will once again host a variety of events in 2023, including four auctions, s even car shows, one motorcycle swap meet and one fundraising event.

• The council has directed staff to prepare plans and specifications for Lift Station No. 12. Lift Station No. 12 will be located in the northwest portion of the Oneka Prairie Development. Since the Oneka Prairie project does not yet have a recorded final plat, the city received a

CALENDAR BRIEFS

Master Gardeners host plant sale, garden expo

Washington County Master Gardeners will host their annual plant sale and garden expo from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, May 20, in Building A at the Washington County Fairgrounds. Bring a wagon or cart and shop from a wide variety of heirloom tomatoes, peppers and herbs along with annuals, perennials, prairie plants, grasses and shade plants. All plants are either nursery-grown or grown by volunteers from seed in soilless potting mix (with no insecticides) to avoid the possible spread of invasive jumping worms.

The garden expo will feature specially trained tree care advisers, home insect control specialists and others to answer questions. The public is encouraged to bring in plant or insect photos or samples along with their gardening questions to the Ask A Master Gardener diagnostic clinic.

The garden market will feature garden and nature-related crafts including trellises, bird feeders, duck houses, garden decor, tools and other implements.

Sale proceeds will be used to support Master Gar-

BUSINESS BRIEF

Booms Ice Cream Shop opens for season

Booms Ice Cream Shop will open for the season

permanent drainage and utility easement for the lift station.

This lift station will not only serve the Oneka Prairie development, but the entire area east of Elmcrest Avenue and south of 165th Street. Preliminary project cost is estimated to be between $600,000 and $650,000.

• Changes have been made to the city’s personnel policy, as requested by the fire department. T he proposed revisions include changes to the probationary period, attendance, drug/alcohol use and dress code sections of the personnel policy.

• The city will hold one cleanup day this year instead of two. It is scheduled for 8 a.m. to noon S aturday, May 6, at the Public Works Building, 8220 140th Street N. As a reminder, hazardous waste will not be accepted, but can be brought to the Forest Lake Transit Center the same day. For more information, visit the city and county’s websites.

• The City Council recently convened in a closed session to discuss “pending” or “threatened litigation” from former public works employee Ryan McCullough.

The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, May 15, at City Hall.

Shannon Granholm

dener educational activities and gardens in Washington County. For more information, visit: www. washingtoncountymg.org

Hugo Fire hosts inaugural golf tournament

The Hugo Firefighter’s Relief Association will host its inaugural golf tournament at 1 p.m. Saturday, June 17, at Oneka Ridge Golf Course in Hugo. Registration includes 18 holes of golf, a golf cart and dinner. To register, visit www.hugofirerelief. org/golf-tournament or mail a form to 5323 140th St. N., Hugo, MN 55038. For questions, contact Ross Hoernemann at 651-785-3417 or ross.hoernemann@ ci.hugo.mn.us.

Northwoods hosts online auction

Northwoods Humane Society will host a Pawsitively Springtime online auction from 8 p.m. Sunday, May 14 through 11:45 p.m. Sunday, May 21. Bid on gift baskets, household items, vintage items and other fun stuff. The funds raised will benefit the over 1,200 cats and dogs the humane society helps each year. For more information, or to bid, visit https:// northwoodshs.org/fundraising-events/springauction23/.

Thursday, May 11. Join the business opening weekend for a kids coloring contest (three age categories) and face painting Saturday, May 13, from 2 to 4 p.m.

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:

If you are interested in learning more about Wynifred or adopting her, please fill out an application at www. ruffstartrescue.org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.

STADIUM: District says

is this is being rushed through,” he said. “We still don’t understand the impact to the neighborhood. When I was growing up, this town had two high schools and shared one football field and it was Price Field (behind Central Middle School). Now we have one high school and two stadiums. I’m not sure that is progress.”

Former math teacher and coach Jim Galvin favors moving football. He reminisced about the program’s history, the 40-plus years football was played at Price Field and the successful White Bear coaches who were “plucked” for positions at the college level.

“Our players want to play home games at the new location, not hop on a bus and go across town,” Galvin said. “They want to dress and prepare in their own locker room and take the short walk to the field. We want our students and student athletes to have pride in our programs and our facilities. This helps establish that pride.”

Mayor Dan Louismet, a graduate from the split high-school era, called the “concept of having varsity football played at the new stadium a no-brainer. Still, I come into the issue with

mixed feelings,” he told council. “I remember what promises were made prior to the referendum and I remember varsity football would be played at South. I won’t go so far to say it was a bait and switch, I’ll take the school district at their word that this was always the long game.

“I can appreciate that more homes were acquired than originally planned. Is it worth delaying to break in the new high school and get the neighborhood acclimated before bringing football here?”

Wald explained that the district “hit the right things at the right time.”

“Construction pricing was reasonable. Residents sold their houses,” he said. “The footprint of the property expanded, which allows us to expand the scope. That may not be the case in 2027 when we don’t have the benefit of bond money to put into this project. We only have a certain amount of time, so we want to hit those deadlines. A soft construction market allowed us to do things on the project we didn’t originally expect. We never expected to have 1,344 parking spots available on the campus.”

Superintendent Wayne Kazmierczak pointed out that the question of mov-

ing football came up “a lot” in the 125 community meetings the district held on the project. “We stated that over and over, yes, we planned to leave South.

Our long-term goal was always to bring football to the new site. We couldn’t do it right away because the site wouldn’t allow it. Now it does.”

Parking concerns by neighbors brought back the calculation district consultants shared with the Planning Commission and reported earlier. A typical homecoming game draws 3,800 spectators. Assuming three people per vehicle, the site would need to park 1,267 vehicles, or 77 fewer than the 1,344 provided. South Campus, it was noted, has 600 parking spots with a capacity of 4,800 bleacher seats.

Council Member Kevin Edberg said three occupants per vehicle didn’t strike him as a realistic number. “What confidence do we have we’re not creating issues that flow into neighborhoods?” he asked.

“There will be people parking in the neighborhood, like they do at South,” replied a SEH Engineering representative. “We plan to encourage patrons to park on site.”

Street parking can be controlled by “No park-

ing” signs during events or restricted to one side of nearby streets if it becomes an issue. Wald said the district may work with White Bear Lake’s Police Department to mitigate parking issues. Multiple entrances and exits on both the east and west side of campus will also allow cars to get out quickly, unlike the bottleneck at South.

There is potential to have a parking shortage, all agreed, but the district has yet to experience a 5,000-person event.

Street improvements to mitigate traffic near the school are also a condition of the amended CUP. On the calendar are improve-

ments to Bald Eagle Boulevard – starting summer 2023; Division Avenue and Eighth Street – starting summer 2024; and a signalized intersection at Eighth and Hwy. 61.

A review by City Engineer Paul Kauppi indicated surrounding roads have the capacity to absorb additional traffic. He advised council to take a “wait and see” approach to parking issues instead of restricting street parking now.

“Today we don’t know what it will look like,” he said. “All the high school kids aren’t there.”

The unified high school, with a 3,200-student capacity, and site amenities are expected to be complete by

fall 2024. Football remains at South Campus one more year.

Adding perspective was Edberg, who graduated from Mariner in 1976.

“Anytime we had a football game (at Price Field), the neighborhoods to the east had bumper-to-bumper parking because there were no stalls,” he recalled. “That was once the norm for this community. New residents have never experienced that.”

Council voted 4-0 to amend the CUP expanding the stadium seating. Member Steve Engstran abstained, noting he works for the school district. Added the mayor: “Go Bears.”

Upcoming Games

May

Upcoming Games

Varsity football at the new location is not entirely new. Price Field behind Central Middle School was the home stadium for at least four decades and actually served as home field for both White Bear and Mariner High School before the South Campus stadium was built. This aerial photo was taken in 1954. The field was named for longtime school board member Charles Price.

COPS COURTS • & COPS COURTS • & COPS&COURTS

HUGO POLICE REPORTS

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

A motorist was cited at 3:38 p.m. March 24 in the 17000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for displaying an expired temporary tag.

• Residents in the 12000 block of Everton Avenue N., who reported theft from a motor vehicle at 4:08 p.m. March 24, turned out to have locked their vehicle and lost the keys. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies provided the complainants with various options.

• A M innesota motorist was cited at 6:13 p.m. March 24 in the 7000 block of Oneka Lake Blvd. N. for driving after cancellation, after deputies on patrol observed an SUV with a suspended object from the rearview mirror and window tint that made the cab completely opaque. A license plate check before the stop revealed the driver’s canceled status. Due to the driver’s cooperation, deputies issued only a warning for the equipment violations.

• A Minnesota driver was cited at 6:51 p.m. March 24 in the 15000 block of Foxhill Avenue N. for still displaying the same June 2021 tabs that deputies cited him for three weeks prior.

• A westbound motorist was cited at 9:57 a.m. March 25 in the area of 170th Street N. and Henna Avenue N. for speeding 62 mph in a 55 mph zone by eastbound deputies in their marked squad, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 75 mph. The driver admitted to going 62 mph, and that’s the amount he was officially cited for.

• A motorist was arrested on suspicion of DWI at 6:07 p.m. March 25 in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd., following a report of a vehicle with a possibly intoxicated driver behind the wheel. Deputies located the vehicle and pulled it over after observing it swerving in its lane and twice failing to display a turn signal.

• A report of threats in the 7000 block of 132nd Street N. at 6:51 p.m. March 25 turned out to be a case of extortion.

• A suspicious occupied vehicle reported at 12:49 a.m. March 26 in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. turned out to be a nearby resident just wanting to get out of the house.

• Deputies conducted a traffic stop for speeding 76 mph in a 55 mph zone at 8:24 a.m. March 27 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N.

• A business in the 16000 block of Forest Blvd. N. at 2:16 p.m. March 27 reported being out $2,300 after they sold merchandise to an out-of-state party. Their bank would not accept the transaction, and the complainant believes they were given fraudulent credit card information.

• Deputies arrested a motorist on a warrant after conducting a traffic stop in the area of Forest Blvd. N. and 120th Street N. at 8:12 p.m. March 27.

• W hile chilling at a local business in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 2:48 a.m.

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

Hugo Fire responds to brush fire

At 12:35 p.m. Tuesday, April 25, the Hugo Fire Department was dispatched to the area of Fable Hills Parkway for a reported brush fire. While Hugo Fire units were responding, they were notified by Washington County Dispatch that the fire was approximately the size of one football field.

Upon arrival, fire units witnessed a running fire with wind blowing the fire away from nearby homes. Assisting on this call were White Bear Lake Fire, Forest Lake Fire and the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Initially, a helicopter was launched by DNR officials. It was canceled it was

March 29, deputies ran a nearby license plate in random fashion and discovered the plate did not match the vehicle it was on. After contact with the driver, deputies also discovered neither the vehicle or plates were stolen, just recently purchased.

• Residents in the 6000 block of 150th Street N. at 2:19 p.m. March 29 reported being victims of the computer scam, after they purchased $18,000 in gift cards and turned over the numbers to the scammer, as instructed.

• A n attachment for the front end of a Bobcat was reported stolen at 12:15 p.m. March 30 from the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. The complainant endured an estimated $12,000 in monetary loss and property damage.

A male of undisclosed identity was arrested at 5:02 p.m. March 30 in the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N., after deputies found him trespassing on the property.

• A resident in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 5:48 p.m. March 30 reported her former romantic partner for making threats towards her. A woman was arrested for DWI at 5:11 p.m. March 31 in the 17000 block of Forest Blvd. N. after deputies were dispatched out to the scene of an intoxicated person leaving the local bar. Deputies located her vehicle, mainly due to her driving conduct. They arrested her, following standard field sobriety testing.

• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies were kept busy overnight March 31-April 1, dispatched out to vehicles stuck in the snow throughout town. They even came upon more vehicles stuck in the snow on the way to those they were dispatched to help. At 1:41 a.m., a male found stuck near 140th Street N. and Forest Blvd. N. said he was okay and was going to get unstuck on his own. At 2:11 a.m., an unoccupied vehicle was stuck in the area of 140th Street N. and Forest Blvd. N. Deputies contacted the registered owner, who said a tow truck was coming to move the vehicle that wasn’t already blocking traffic. When deputies were dispatched out to a vehicle blocking traffic at 4:31 a.m. on Highway 61 at Frenchman Road, the vehicle was gone. The driver of a vehicle stuck in the ditch at 6:54 a.m. near 137th Street N. and Homestead Avenue had found someone to help pull them out of the ditch.

Later in the morning of April 1, deputies fielded calls to hurry the snowplows out to clear roadways and issued a few calls themselves.

At 10:34 a.m., deputies notified the public works department that there was an ambulance stuck in the 11000 block of July Avenue N. and requested the department expedite the plowing of that street. At 2:58 p.m., deputies sent out another call to the public works department to clear the 5000 block of 130th Way N.

• A resident in the 14000 block of Empress Avenue N. at 11:31 a.m. April 1 reported her neighbor for blowing snow into her yard and onto her vehicle, despite being asked not to do so. The complainant didn’t want deputies to talk to the neighbor, but only to have the incident documented.

• Deputies cited a motorist at 3:47 p.m. April 1 in the 4000 block of Rosemary Way N. for driving after suspension. They cited another motorist at 5:06 p.m. in the area of Elmcrest Avenue N. and Heritage Parkway N. for driving after cancellation due to unsafe driving behavior,

en route as ground crews were able to contain the fire before it was able to damage any nearby structures.

Assistant Fire Chief Colin Emans said the fire was most likely the result of a homeowner burning brush in their yard. “Please remember during the springtime that vegetation is still extremely dry, and winds can easily catch people off guard and create a dangerous fire situation,” he said. “Always check the Minnesota DNR website for current burning restrictions and conditions or contact the Hugo Fire Department for more information before burning.”

following a traffic stop for failure to signal a turn. They cited a third driver at 5:43 p.m. in the 6000 block of 170th Street N. for speeding 74 mph in a 55 mph zone.

• A M innesota motorist was cited at 10:11 a.m. April 2 on eastbound 170th Street N. and Jeffrey Avenue N. for speeding 60 mph in a 55 mph zone by westbound deputies on patrol, who clocked the vehicle on radar at 72 mph. The driver admitted to speeding.

• A resident in the 8000 block of 140th Street N. at 6:33 p.m. April 2 reported an account created in his name that he didn’t authorize, after he was notified by the Bank of America fraud division.

• Deputies issued a written warning at 6:42 p.m. April 2 in the area of Everton Avenue N. and Frenchman Road for speeding 50 mph in a 35 mph zone and a verbal warning for failure to provide proof of insurance.

• A suspicious motorist parked illegally in a handicapped spot in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. at 1:27 a.m. April 3 was made to surrender one of his fake identification cards, after he claimed to belong to a cleaning company out on the job.

As he presented his driver’s license to try and prove he was a cleaner, another identification card fell out of his pocket. When deputies asked about the second I.D., the driver admitted to it being fake.

A vehicle reported as stolen and recovered by deputies at 12:57 p.m. April 3 in the 15000 block of French Drive, turned out to have been “borrowed” as part of a civil issue.

• A suspicious male reported lurking around a neighboring home in the 5000 block of 131st Street N. at 1:42 p.m. April 4 turned out to be a home inspector the neighbors had hired, after deputies approached the male to ask what he was doing there. The information was relayed to the reporter.

• A person of undisclosed identification was arrested at 9:45 p.m. April 4 in the area of Forest Blvd. N. and 130th Street for DWI, child endangerment and DWI test refusal.

• A resident in the 13000 block of Fenway Blvd. Circle N. at 11:54 a.m. April 5 reported receiving unemployment benefits paperwork in the mail that she did not apply for that used her Social Security number.

• A n unidentified motorist was arrested at 4:28 p.m. April 5 in the area of Forest Blvd. N. and 177th Street N. on an active warrant, following a traffic stop for expired registration and object suspended from the rearview mirror.

• A suspicious vehicle in a business parking lot in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 10:27 p.m. April 5 turned out to be really not allowed in the lot. Management confirmed with deputies that no persons are allowed to sleep overnight in their lot. Deputies prevailed upon the male to leave the lot, which he did without fuss.

• A motorist was cited for driving after suspension at 4:25 p.m. April 6 in the area of 170th Street N. and Jeffrey Avenue N., after deputies on routine patrol conducted a traffic check.

Loretta Harding

Warneke presented with Meritorious Service Award

Washington County Sheriff’s Office

Lt. John Warneke was recently presented with the Meritorious Service Award by Sheriff Dan Starry at a Washington County Board of Commissioners meeting.

Warneke has served in the Sheriff’s Office for more than 30 years, working as a correctional officer, correctional sergeant and assistant jail administrator. According to Starry, Warneke has had a long and distinguished career, and has been an example of true professionalism.

A valid driver on scene was promoted to the driver’s seat.

CONTIBUTED

Lt. John Warneke is presented with the Meritorious Service Award. Pictured with Warneke are commissioners Stan Karwoski, District 2; Michelle Clasen, District 5; Fran Miron, District 1; Karla Bigham, District 4; and Gary Kriesel, District 3; with Cmdr. Roger Heinen and Sheriff Dan Starry.

Press announces Earth Day winners

Press Publications has announced the winners of the Earth Day Quiz. Those who answered all the questions of the quiz correctly were entered

into a random drawing for a chance to win some prizes. Winning for the White Bear Press is Michael Johnson.

Winning for the Quad Community Press is Ray Macheledt. And winning for The Citizen is Cindy Kinde. Congratulations to the three winners.

Waiting Child

Timmy,13, is very curious, inquisitive and creative. He loves to build things with building toys and everyday objects. He also likes to play sports and loves to be active and keep busy. Timmy has a very good sense of humor and loves to tell jokes. He can be quiet around new people, but once he gets to know someone he is very funny and talkative. His favorite treat is an Oreo Blizzard. Timmy is open to any type of family dynamic - either a one parent or two parent family would be fine with him. Following adoption, Timmy needs to maintain contact with his siblings.

Only families living in Minnesota are being considered at this time.

WHAT’S HAPPENING

ONGOING EVENTS

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday May 4; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 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: 1 p.m. Monday, May 15; the 3rd Monday of every month

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

Details: Monthly meeting followed by afternoon of games. Refreshments served. Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com

CURRENT EVENTS

‘LA CAGE AUX FOLLES’

When: 7:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays; 2 p.m. Sundays, April 28-May 21; 7:30 p.m. Monday, May 15

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: Comic play performed by Lakeshore Players Theatre. Tickets $10-$30. Contact: 651-478-7427 or lakeshoreplayers.org

MAY NATURE PLAY: INCREDIBLE

INSECTS

When: 10-11 a.m. or 1-2 p.m. Thursday, May 4

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

Details: Kids ages 2-5 explore through outdoor play and a story. Registration required. Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

GAMMELGARDEN MUSEUM OPENING WEEKEND

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Thursday, May 4-Sunday, May 7

Where: Gammelgarden Museum, 20080

Olinda Trail N., Scandia

Details: Free tours at 10:30 a.m., 1 & 2:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 1 & 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Artist and crafter’s fair, artisan demos, 19th century games, and hands on activities for all ages. Contact: gammelgardenmuseum.org

BIG RIG DAY FEATURING THE ROE FAMILY SINGERS

Business owners: Don’t leave your ERTC

Use

The Employee Retention Tax Credit (ERTC) is one of the best kept secrets around and was recently expanded to benefit more businesses. Even if you received a PPP loan, you can still qualify for this federal Covid-19 benefit for up to $26,000 per employee

We analyze every business from scratch. That’s why we’ve helped thousands of businesses like yours claim hundreds of millions of dollars in ERTC funds.

When: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Rd. N., Forest Lake

learning stations, and food trucks. Free.

Contact: manyfaceswblarea.org/wacipi

HOUSEHOLD HAZARDOUS WASTE COLLECTION

When: 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Forest Lake Transit Center, 19987 Fitzgerald Trail N.

Details: Recycle and dispose of electronics and household hazardous waste. Confidential document shredding.

Contact: 651-430-6702 or co.washington. mn.us

CENTURY COLLEGE BAND CONCERT

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Century College West Campus Theatre, 3300 Century Ave. N., White Bear Lake

Details: Free instrumental concert directed by Charlie Preis.

Contact: century.edu/campus-life/fineperforming-arts

CHAIN OF GIVING EVENT: COMEDY DE

MAYO

When: 6 p.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Peder Pedersen Pavilion, 5524 Upper 146th St., Hugo

Details: Annual fundraiser for Chain of Lakes Rotary includes comedy show and Mexican buffet indoors, along with yard games and pinata outside. Adults 21+ only. See details and registration information online.

Contact: chainoflakesrotary.com

LWV MEETING

When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 11

Where: Washington County Heritage Center, 1862 Greeley St. S, Stillwater

Business owners: Don’t leave your ERTC calculations to anyone but the experts.

Details: Kids can climb on vehicles at the Metro Transit parking lot behind the library while listening to the Roe Family singers. Free; no registration required. Contact: washcolib.org

WARGO RESTORATION PROJECT DAYS

When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, May 6

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

Details: Volunteer to tackle challenges each month such as removing invasive species, cleaning up gardens, and gathering native plant seeds. Free; registration required. Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

WACIPI (POWWOW)

When: 11 a.m. Saturday, May 6

Where: Sunrise Park Middle School, 2399 Cedar Ave., White Bear Lake

Details: The public is invited to a community powwow to honor American Indian students who are graduating from local school districts. Event features Native American drums and dancing, vendors, artists,

Details: Join the League of Women Voters to explore youth civic engagement by hearing local leaders discuss programs happening in White Bear, Mahtomedi and Stillwater school districts. Learn about the YMCA’s Youth Voice program from Amy Anderson, executive director, and hear from students about their experiences. There will be discussion of how the local league is already engaging with local students.

Contact: https//: lwv-wbla.org.

SENIOR EXPO & WELLNESS FAIR

When: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 18

St. Genevieve Parish Center, 6995 Centerville Road, Centerville

The Quad Area Chamber of Commerce will host a senior expo and wellness fair. The event will include vendor booths, health screenings, food vendors, prescription/sharps collection, prizes and fun. Contact: https://mms. quadareachamber.org

The Chain of Lakes will host its Chain of Giving event May 6 in Hugo. See calendar listing for more information.

10th annual Chain of Giving boasts new theme, venue

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

The Chain of Lakes Rotary is switching things up for its 10th annual Chain of Giving fundraiser.

The event is slated for 6 to 10 p.m. Saturday, May 6. Historically, the event has been held in March at Infinite Campus in Blaine, but this year the event will be held in May at the new Peder Pedersen Pavilion, which is located in Lions Volunteer Park in Hugo. “We wanted to try something different,” explained Rotary President Patrick Antonen. “We were looking to go somewhere new.”

Also new this year is the “Comedy de Mayo” theme, since the fundraiser falls the day after Cinco de Mayo. The event will feature an hourlong comedy show by Kevin Cahak, a Mexican buffet from El Zócalo and desserts from Kingdom Baking. In addition to outdoor yard games, there will be additional games, raffles

and other chances to win prizes.

The event will raise funds for Centennial Schools’ Angel Fund, which gives all students in middle school and high school the opportunity to participate in activities and sports offered through the schools and community education.

“Come support your community,” Antonen said. “It’s a worthy cause, and a night to get out and have some fun.”

In addition to its goal to raise funds for area youth, the Rotary is hopeful the event will encourage more community members to get involved in Rotary and spread its message of “service above self.”

Tickets for Chain of Giving can be purchased in advance online at chainoflakesrotary.com. A limited number of tickets will also be available at the door.

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

Face hiring challenges amid teacher

Fair, which is the largest job fair in Minnesota, and there was a significant reduction in the number of candidates who attended,” Human Resources Director Dan Melde explained. “We also know the number of students going into education has significantly reduced over the last couple of years. This will lead to not as many teacher candidates to hire in the future.”

Melde said where the district is seeing its biggest reduction of candidates is in special education. He explained part of the reason for the shortage is the paperwork mandates that are required of special education teachers. “There is less time to work directly with the students,” he said.

To combat the shortage, Centennial has had to increase where and how it advertises positions and attend more job fairs. The district is also advertising on billboards and letting the community know it is hiring by hanging banners on school buildings.

“Although we are experiencing a shortage of teachers, Centennial continues to be a place where teachers want to teach,” Melde said.

White Bear Lake Area Schools

Despite the shortage, White Bear Lake Area Schools says it is currently fully staffed. It may, however, be in need of some summer maintenance workers as well as a few individuals to fill part-time positions next year.

Director of Human Resources Matthew Mons says the way the district has been able to accomplish that is by hiring a number of teachers on variances in the hardest-to-hire areas and relying on teacher overloads, with teachers teaching during their non-student prep time. (A variance is a special permission granted for already fully licensed teachers to teach in another licensure area for which they don’t hold licensure.)

“When we have experienced vacancies in our full-time teaching areas, the

positions that have been the hardest to fill have been those in special education, science and world languages,” Mons said, adding that it’s also been difficult to find substitute teachers.

“Our largest shortage is in substitute staff members, in all categories including teachers, paraeducators, nutrition services staff workers and bus drivers,” Mons said. “We are continuously looking for staff members who are interested in these roles.”

Paraprofessionals and those in nutrition services, extended day and transportation departments have also been hard to find. “These positions play an important role in supporting our students’ experience each day, so it is vital to us that we are able to recruit terrific candidates for these positions,” Mons said.

Similarly, to Centennial, White Bear Area Schools says the overall hiring environment has become more challenging.

“Fewer professionals are seeking jobs in education, meaning we are receiving fewer applications and we are having difficulty finding applicants for some of

our licensed areas,” Mons explained.

The district has tried to “think outside the box” on how to get the word out about open positions; for example, it has been using yard signs and social media for that purpose.

“Our communications efforts are also seen as a recruitment and retention tool. As we continue to tell the story of the district, we aim to help people see that it’s both a place where students learn and grow and a place where employees engage and make a difference,” Mons explained.

Mahtomedi Public Schools

Superintendent Barb Duffrin says Mahtomedi Schools has been very fortunate when it comes to filling its teaching positions, as it was fully staffed for the 2022-23 school year.

The candidate pool for jobs remains strong for elementary positions, but the district has seen a decrease in that pool at the secondary level.

“Typically, the hardest-to-fill licensed positions in our district include areas such as special education and early childhood,” Duffrin said. “In addition, finding substitute teachers for last-min-

ute absences as well as filling paraprofessional positions continue to be challenging.”

For that reason, for the past two years the district has established a permanent substitute position at every school so that there is help with last-minute, unfilled substitute requests for teachers. In addition, Duffrin says community members have stepped up to fill some of the hard-to-fill paraprofessional roles, like lunchroom and recess duties, until they can be filled.

Retaining teachers is just as important as attracting them to the district according to Duffrin. This year, Director of Teaching and Learning Dr. Jenn Reichel developed a new teacher-mentor program to provide new teachers with more structured support and training during their first few years with the district.

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

Table 28 uses data reported by districts on whether they

Do you have any Nautical themed items to sell? Join the Nautical Market at the WBL Boat Show on June 24th 2023. Call 651-407-1200 to reserve a table

Register your classic or vintage boat in the 16th Annual White Bear Lake Boat Show fo r a chance to win a trophy or other prizes

Registration is free.

The show is on land

Ju ne 24 at the White Bear Lake sh opping center Register at pr esspubs.com or call 651-407-1200

Imag ine cruising the St Croix River this spring in a 25.5' Bayliner Cruiser. The Saratoga will make memories! Grill steaks or impossible burgers, the sky is the limit!

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Join Our Shipping Team Hiring FT in White Bear Lake at Snuggle Me Organic. Mon-Fr i. Flexible Hrs; Send Resume to: becky@snugglemeorganic.com

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Staff Writer

The City of Lexington is accepting applications for a part-time public works employee to assist the public works department in regular maintenance and repair work associated with the city’s parks, buildings, streets, and utilities. The position is 20-30 hours per week – flexible hours. A high school diploma and a valid driver's license with a clean driving record is essential.

Applications available Monday – Friday, 8 am – 4:30 pm, at Lexington City Hall, 9180 Lexington Ave, Lexington, MN 55014 or online at http://www.ci.lexington.mn.us/. Salary Range: $17.05-$18.76/hour. For more information call 763-784-2792. Position is open until filled.

a related field) and have relevant experience. To apply, please send resume, cover letter and three writing samples to quadnews@presspubs.com.

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 discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal custod ians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not kn owingly accept any ad vertising for real estate 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: 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-92 75

The Centerville Tidbits in the April 20 issue of The Citizen contained an error. It should have stated that the Quad Area Chamber of Commerce

is planning the second annual Senior Expo at 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Thursday, May 18, at St. Genevieve’s Community Parish Center.

Serve up homemade salsa this Cinco de Mayo

Much like St. Patrick’s Day is celebrated by people with no trace of Irish heritage, Cinco de Mayo has become a day of celebration for people who do not trace their ancestry to Mexico.

In fact, History.com notes that Cinco de Mayo is a relatively minor holiday in Mexico, where the day commemorates a symbolic yet not significantly strategic win by a heavily outnumbered Mexican army over French forces. The French were sent by Napoleon III to establish an empire on Mexican land.

In the United States, Cinco de Mayo has become a day to commemorate Mexican culture, including its much-loved cuisine. Food is front and center at many Cinco de Mayo celebrations. Home cooks hosting friends or those who simply want to enjoy some homemade Mexican fare this Cinco de Mayo can try their hands at this recipe for Fiery Corn Salsa from Kelley Cleary Coffeen’s “200 Easy Mexican Recipes” (Robert Rose).

Fiery Corn Salsa

Makes 2 cups

• 1/4 cup olive oil

• 3 T freshly squeezed lime juice

• 2 tsp minced fresh cilantro

• 3 tomatoes, seeded and diced

• 1 1/2 cups corn kernels

• 2 to 3 jalapeño peppers, seeded and diced

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper In a large bowl, combine oil, lime juice and cilantro. Add tomatoes, corn and jalapeño to taste. Mix until corn mixture is

Deck Cleaning

well coated. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Transfer to an airtight container and refrigerate, stirring occasionally, for 1 hour or up to 2 days.

Tip: In place of the corn kernels, you can used canned corn, drained; frozen corn, thawed; or corn from the cob, cooked on the stovetop. For a smoky flavor, use corn grilled on the barbecue grill.

installers are all fully trained and experienced with installation of all our products. We will complete your home repair beatification project quickly, efficiently and with as little intrusion into your daily routine as possible.

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Weekly Outlook

Weather Tidbits

Weather Tidbits

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com

Find our ad under Roofing

Truth be told, we haven’t had the greatest weekends weatherwise lately. In fact, April wasn’t the most pleasant month. Other than the string of 80’s we experienced, April was on the wet and windy side. I’m not too overly optimistic that May will be our breakthrough month. We haven’t had the best Mays the past few seasons. I’m forecasting near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall this May. It’s nice to see the sky starting to brighten around 5am, if you’re up that early. Astro note: Look for Mars near the moon on Saturday after sunset. Venus is the bright planet in the evening sky.

Truth be told, we haven’t had the greatest weekends weatherwise lately. In fact, April wasn’t the most pleasant month. Other than the string of 80’s we experienced, April was on the wet and windy side. I’m not too overly optimistic that May will be our breakthrough month. We haven’t had the best Mays the past few seasons. I’m forecasting near normal temperatures and below normal rainfall this May. It’s nice to see the sky starting to brighten around 5am, if you’re up that early. Astro note: Look for Mars near the moon on Saturday after sunset. Venus is the bright planet in the evening sky.

Frank Watson is a local Meteorologist who operates a weather station in White Bear Lake. Weather data and observation are from his weather station and trips around the area. Frank can be found on the internet at WeathermanWatson.com.

Frank Watson

and bathing services by appointment!

Robin Udstuen | owner 15190 Everton Av. North, Hugo, Mn. 55038 651-485-9774 tcdistributing@msn.com

Zephyr nine cools off Bears 7-2

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Mahtomedi, a perennial power in baseball, and White Bear Lake, enjoying its first winning month of April since 2011, dueled on the Bears diamond. Mahtomedi thumped the Bears 7-2 behind Seth Nelson, who twirled six shutout innings with six strikeouts while slamming a solo home run and an RBI double. The Zephyrs are 5-1. The Bears are 5-3, including 2-3 against top-ten ranked teams. Mahtomedi, top-ranked in Class 3A, had 10 hits, five for extra bases. Jacob Johnson was 2-for-3 (triple, RBI), Sam Garry 2-for-4 (double) and Josh Donna 1-for-4 (triple, RBI). It was the neighbors’ first meeting since 2017. The Bears got two runs off Tommy Muetzel in the seventh. Noah Jacka took the loss, nicked for five runs in four innings. Owen Farrington was 2-for-3 (run, RBI).

Cougars post two lastwinning wins in 2-1 week

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Centennial rallied for two road wins last week, over Maple Grove 5-4

Monday and Rogers 5-2 in 10 innings

Wednesday, then fell to Osseo 6-4

Thursday at home.

The Cougars (6-2) trailed Maple Grove 4-2 but scored two in the fifth and the go-ahead run in the seventh when Vinny Wry singled, took second on Anders Wessman’s bunt, and scored on Will Whelan’s double. Wry was 2-for-3 (walk, three runs) and Wessman 2-for-3 (run, RBI). Tyler Gruye got the win in relief (three innings, no runs, one hit, three strikeouts). Whelan, the starter, gave up four runs.

Against Rogers, the Cougars trailed

2-0 as starter Josh Lee yielded two runs on six hits in two innings. Lee then threw four shutout innings, and Luke Gunderman threw four more (one hit, two walks) to get the win. Two bunts helped take the lead in the 10th. Jack Dagostino struck out but reached first on a third-strike wild pitch. He was bunted to second by Gunderman, took third on Wry’s single, and scored on Wessman’s squeeze bunt. After an error, Peyton Streit delivered a two-run single. Owen Hackett was 3-for-4 (double, RBI), Wessman 2-for-4 (two runs), and Sam Menne 1-for-3 (double, sacrifice fly). Against Osseo, Dagostino, first of four pitchers, took the loss (3 1/3 innings, three runs). Delivering RBI hits were Whelan, Lee and Menne.

ATHLETE OF THE WEEK Brol Scherman

Centennial Lacrosse

Brol Scherman, Centennial junior lacrosse standout, has netted 22 goals and provided seven assists for the Cougars (4-2) while notching 17 ground balls (a change of possession statistic). The 6-foot, 185-pound attacker and midfielder has already committed to a Division I team, Marquette (Wisconsin). Scherman was all-conference as a sophomore with 36 goals and 28 assists. The recruiting website ILMCA said of him: “End-to-end playmaking machine with striking confidence both on and off the field. Versatile offensive threat with strong outside shooting and crease finishing skills. Magnetic team leader and positive influencer.”

“Your

BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED

Cougar pitcher Josh Lee looks to first base before throwing out a Rogers batter on a sacrifice bunt.

Seth Nelson dominated the game with his arm and bat.

PHOTOS BY BRUCE STRAND

Evan Newlander of the Bears snagged a long fly ball to center field.