My name is Olivia Decker, and I am thrilled to join Press Publications as a 2024 summer intern.
I am a Mahtomedi High School Class of 2022 alumna, and this fall I will enter my junior year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (go Badgers!) As I enter these first stages of my career, it is remarkable to reflect on how much I have flourished since my high school graduation. While I am thriving at UW-Madison, I like to acknowledge how the Mahtomedi community made me the lifelong learner I am today. I cannot imagine my path without the wonderful teachers, staff, parents and peers who supported me toward my postsecondary path. I am thankful for this opportunity to reconnect with and give back to my hometown and surrounding areas as I help share the stories of our great communities.
Decker’s Diary
Olivia Decker
At UW-Madison I study journalism and mass communications and am obtaining certificates in sports communications and digital studies. I would not be here today without UW-Madison’s School of Journalism and Mass Communication (the “J-School.”) My classes, advisors, professors and classmates have prepared me for a successful future in ways I never could have imagined.
I am excited to apply my knowledge and skills to my internship with Press Publications in addition to my second internship with Mahtomedi Community Education. As their Community Education Communications Intern, I am gathering photo and video content, creating social media posts, writing stories and planning ways to share the great things happening at Mahtomedi Community Education. My two internships tap into both sides of my major (journalism and mass communications). It is not a double major; UW-Madison merges the fields into one degree that produces well-rounded storytellers who can adapt to many different industries. Press Publications will grow my writing and journalism skills while Mahtomedi Community Education will develop my strategic communications expertise. I am thankful for the opportunity to learn and grow with both companies.
When it comes to my dream job, my heart belongs to the sports industry. I was a competitive dancer for 17 years, but my passion for sports stems from watching my two brothers in their athletic endeavors. My childhood consisted of countless hours at any rink, field or sports facility you can think of. My favorite sport is hockey, but you can put on any game or event, and I will eagerly pick a team or athlete to root for.
My interest in the sports industry was solidified by my job with the University of Wisconsin Athletic Department as a video production assistant. In this role I help produce all video elements of Badger game days including the video boards, concourse TVs and Big Ten Plus live streams. It is surreal to look back on the opportunities and experiences I have from this position. Sometimes I’m sitting under the basketball hoop filming free throws or picking which fans get featured on the jumbotron or getting paid to watch hockey (through a camera lens, but still.)
When I’m not working double internships this summer I can be found on White Bear Lake with friends, relaxing at my cabin, visiting friends from college or frequenting Cup and Cone too often. I look forward to using my experiences and knowledge to thrive in this internship with Press Publications. Thank you to everyone who has and will be a part of my journey. I am proud and excited to be here, and cannot wait to reflect on the stories, relationships and growth coming my way.
Olivia Decker is an intern with Press Publications. She can be reached by calling 651-407-1200 or emailing intern1@presspubs.com.
IMovers & Shakers
The blessings of summer
n the busyness of our dayto-day activities, it’s often difficult to take time to reflect. To reflect on the many blessings, we have in our individual lives. Many of us have the blessings of family, of friends, of great neighbors as well as the blessing of a safe place to live. Well, we live in MN and it’s time to enjoy the blessings of Summer. Summer in MN means nice long days with day light late into the evening. It means catching up with neighbors you may not have seen throughout the winter months. It means fun times in Centerville! We have many dedicated volunteers who plan all year long to provide Music in the Park on Tuesday nights, The Main Street Market, and the Bald Eagle Ski Show on Thursday nights. We also have our Summer Festival, Fete Des
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Lacs, which has the theme of Shoot for the Moon this year. The festival will run from July 16 – 21st with many fun events scheduled.
The full event schedule can be found at FETEDESLACS.ORG or can be found on Face Book. Our Centerville Lions has done a fantastic job of organizing many family fun events. We will all meet at Hidden Spring Park on July 16th at 6:30 PM to kick off the festivities. Pizza will be available for purchase and swag bags will be available for the first 150 attendees.
Back by popular demand is the Public Safety Night from 6 – 8 PM on Wednesday July 17th at the St. Genevieve’s Parish Center. Kids and kids at heart get an opportunity to explore Police, Fire, and Ambulance vehicles. Scout Troops will be there to help with do it yourself first aid kits and the life link III helicopter is scheduled to make a landing.
Thursday features the previously mentioned Main Street Market and Water Ski Show. I’m sure this evening will be filled with the best of fair food
and even more daring ski tricks than ever before.
Then there is the weekend, Friday night at Laurie LaMotte Park will be the place to be. Everything from concessions to bingo, kids dance parties, kick ball and fireworks. This is followed by a full day of fun on Saturday with all day concessions, more kick ball, 5K, 8K and kids runs. Our parade at 11 am and many fun activities to follow. A little something for everyone of all ages. Finally on Sunday if you need to relax from it all, a nice Noon paddle race on Centerville Lake just might be what the doctor ordered.
This festival is a fun way to celebrate our city! This celebration would not be possible without our Centerville Lions, our many volunteers, our numerous sponsors and even the kids who worked so hard to create logos for our posters. As I reflect on all each of you have done, I’m truly thankful and grateful! I know with your efforts display why we are Stronger Together!
D. Love is the mayor of the city of Centerville.
THE CITIZEN | ELECTION LETTER GUIDELINES
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D. Love
County garden tour aims to educate, sow seeds of inspiration
Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just getting started with a new yard, finding ideas from others' landscapes is a great way to spark your own creativity.
Washington County Master Gardeners' third biennial Learn And Grow With Us Garden Tour on July 20 provides a great opportunity to check out how local gardeners use their landscapes and to learn what might work for you.
The self-guided tour, which runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., includes seven Master Gardener-designed and maintained gardens in the Oakdale, Lake Elmo, White Bear Lake and Stillwater area. Each location will include an education station and Master Gardener volunteers will be available to answer your gardening questions.
"I hope that people are inspired by what they see, learn about what they can take back to their own gardens, and do it," said Barbara Stalsberg, one of the tour's three lead organizers, along with Karen and David Wolterstorff.
For many gardeners, seeing a well-established landscaping can be a bit overwhelming, Stalsberg said. "But I hope they will find one thing and say 'I can do that.' That's what I do when I see other Master Gardeners' gardens."
The seven locations were chosen with diversity in mind, Stalsberg said. Together they highlight the Master Gardener program's seven priorities: horticulture skills, plant biodiversity, pollinator health, clean water, local food, climate responsiveness and nearby nature.
Thus, the sites offer a wide range of gardening scenarios from a large prairie-inspired landscape to small-space gardening, with a different focus at each site.
• Garden Evolution: This garden focuses on transitioning plantings and gardening
PUBLIC
practices over time to respond to challenges and changing conditions.
• A Labor of Love: Here visitors will find colorful flowers and shrubs integrated with fruit and vegetable gardens, all maintained using integrated pest management to help keep unwanted creatures at bay.
• Lakeside Retreat: This large property was designed with gardening zones for prairies, an oak savannah and a natural shoreline.
• Nature and Nurture: The Master Gardener-maintained RCS Giving Garden produces crops for local food shelves as well as learning opportunities for gardeners of all ages.
• Nature's Bounty: This location highlights raised-bed gardening and a wide range of fruit trees that flourish in the Minnesota climate.
• Small Wonder: As this garden demonstrates, you don't need a large piece of land to produce a rich bounty of fruits, vegetables and flowering beauties.
• Pollinators Haven: This garden was designed to attract bees, butterflies and other pollinators as well as to provide sanctuary for birds and other wildlife.
Pre-sale tickets for the tour are $15 and can be purchased online via the Landscape Arboretum's website at https://z. umn.edu/WCMGTour. Tickets are $20 at select gardens on the tour day; ages 12 and younger are free. The event will be held rain or shine. You can also find more information about the tour on the Washington County Master Gardener's website at https://washingtoncountymg.org/wcmg-learn-grow-garden-tour/.
The mission of the Washington County Master Gardener Volunteer Program is to use research-based horticultural knowledge and practices to deliver educational outreach and project-based efforts that inspire change and promote healthy people, healthy communities and a healthy planet.
Donna Lovell is a volunteer with the Washington County Master Gardener Program.
NOTICE
CITY OF HUGO
NOTICE OF CANDIDATE FILINGS FOR OFFICE JULY 30 - AUGUST 13, 2024
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a City Election in the City of Hugo, Washington County, MN, will be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, with the following offices to be filled:
MAYOR – two (2) year term
COUNCIL MEMBER WARD 2 – four (4) year term
COUNCIL MEMBER AT LARGE – four (4) year term
Affidavits of Candidacy for the above offices may be filed with the City Clerk at Hugo City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Avenue North, between July 30 – August 13, 2024, during office hours of 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. On the last day of filing, the office will be open until 5 p.m. The filing fee is $5. Michele Lindau, City Clerk Published one time in The Citizen on July 11, 2024.
CITY OF HUGO PLANNING COMMISSION PUBLIC HEARING
The Hugo Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday, July 25th, 2024 at 7:00 pm at Hugo City Hall to consider the following: Site Plan and PUD Amendment requests from Fenway Land Company, 13025 Fenway Blvd N, Hugo, MN 55038 to construct five 12-unit apartment buildings to be known as Oneka Fields. The PUD Amendment request is to add the apartment buildings to the existing Shores of Oneka Lake development, and the site plan request is for the apartment construction. The subject property is generally located east of Highway 61 and 159th Street North, and northeast of Goodview Avenue North, and is legally described as Outlot C, The Shores of Oneka Lake, Washington County, Minnesota. Full legal description is available at City Hall.
Editor’s
Amendments to Chapter 90 ZONING AND LAND USE, Article II ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT, Sec. 90-47 Exceptions to yard regulations subsection (1)(b), as it relates to egress windows. The proposed amendment is to allow egress windows to extend into the required minimum side yard setback a distance not exceeding three feet, where two feet is currently allowed by ordinance, in order for egress windows to meet building code requirements on houses that are constructed at the required side yard setback line. Anyone wishing to comment on any request can be heard at this time. Please call Max Gort, Associate Planner at 651-762-6311 if you have any questions or comments on the application and would like to participate in the meeting.
Max Gort, Associate Planner
Published one time in The Citizen on July 11, 2024.
PUBLIC
Hugo man convicted of 1st
degree drug possession
Jeffrey Michael Schnagl, 45, of Hugo, has been convicted of firstdegree possession of 40 grams or more of methamphetamine.
According to the criminal complaint, at 10 a.m. Nov. 4, 2022, detectives from the Washington County Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in Hugo for Schnagl. Upon arrival they located his wife, who told them he might be in the garage.
While in the garage, detectives located a large safe and numerous containers of apparent liquid marijuana concentrate. The detectives forced open the safe and found multiple plastic bags containing mushrooms that fieldtested positive as containing
NAMES IN THE NEWS
Kim Berns-Melhus of Hugo has been reappointed by Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan to serve on the Minnesota Forest Resources
WEEKLY WAG
psilocybin, a hallucinogen, and had a combined weight of 229.7 grams; a plastic bag containing a substance that field-tested positive as methamphetamine and weighed 260.9 grams; a glass jar containing a substance that field-tested positive as cocaine and weighed 15 grams; a plastic bag containing a substance that appeared to be fentanyl and had a packaged weight of 17.1 grams; documents indicating drug sales; and paperwork bearing Schnagl’s name. The detectives did not fieldtest the suspected fentanyl for safety reasons.
Although the other counts were dismissed, Schnagl was sentenced to three-years supervised probation. He will also need to pay a $387 fine with surcharge and fees payable within 60 months.
Council (MFRC) as a representative of environmental organizations. Berns-Melhus is The Conservation Fund’s state director for Minnesota.
She brings nearly 40 years of federal experience and experience with environmental nonprofits to her role on the Council.
Tucker-Lee is an active, playful, affectionate, friendly guy, and he is waiting for a loving forever home and family. He is housetrained and is social with people and other dogs. He does display a strong prey drive, so a home with cats may not be a good fit.
CALENDER BRIEF
Tucker loves to play and explore and, if allowed, he would stay outside all day
Golden Lake Elementary hosts bike rodeo
playing and chasing squirrels and birds out of the yard. So a home with a securely fenced yard would be a great place for him. Tucker is a 4-year-old Border Collie mix, and he weighs about 70 pounds. His foster says he is very smart and a quick learner. Tucker is always eager to please. When he is not playing with his toys or outside playing
fetch, he likes to relax in the house. Tucker is very affectionate and he likes being with his people. Tucker arrived at Ruff Start Rescue from South Dakota. If you are interested in learning more about TuckerLee or adopting him, fill out an application at www. ruffstartrescue. org.
Looking for a fun way to learn the rules of the road while biking with your friends? Join Golden Lake Elementary School July 27 for fun and prizes at the bike rodeo. Children are invited to stop by in between 10 a.m. and noon. Don’t forget to bring your bike and helmet for a free tune up and fitting. The event is organized by the Centennial Fire District and the Centennial Lakes Police Department. Be sure to register by July 25 by visiting the CLPD website at https://clpdmn. com. Click on “forms and programs” and then “bike rodeo.” For questions, email cziemer@clpdmn.com.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
CHURCH DIRECTORY
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville 14383 Forest Blvd N, Hugo
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
Garden Talk
Donna Lovell
COPS&COURTS
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies arrested a motorist at 12:56 a.m. May 26 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N., following a traffic stop for expired registration. On contact with the driver, deputes noticed signs of impairment. After taking standardized field sobriety tests, the driver registered a blood alcohol content of .139 on the portable breath test.
• A resident in the 5000 block of 127th Street N. at 11:01 a.m. May 26 reported receiving a threatening text from an unknown sender. The text contained photos of dead bodies and a video of a masked male with an AR style firearm.
Deputies advised the complainant that a common scam used unsettling images to try and extort money from individuals through fear tactics. The caller lost no money, but blocked the number and deleted other messages.
• A trailer was reported stolen from the 15000 block of Ingersoll Avenue N. at 7:45 p.m. May 26.
• Deputies conducted two traffic stops May 26 and issued citations to both drivers -- one at 4:21 p.m. on Forest Blvd. N. and the other at 6:31 p.m. on Frenchman Road. Another driver received a citation for expired registration at midnight May 27 on Forest Blvd. N. and 152nd Street N.
• A motorist was issued multiple citations at 4:06 a.m. May 27 on Forest Blvd. N. and 142nd Street N., after she was pulled over for no headlight and no license plates. Although it was 4:06 a.m., the driver said she had just bought the vehicle. She provided no proof of insurance for the vehicle and was advised to park the car and call for a ride. It was not mentioned how long it took to round up a ride at 4:06 a.m.
• A motorist was cited for expired tabs at midnight May 28 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. Another motorist was cited for speeding 44 mph in a 33-mph zone at 1:28 p.m. May 28 in the 14000 block of Geneva Avenue N.
• It’s door knocking season, and a solicitor was reported twice in the area, the first time at 3:55 p.m. May 27 in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue N. The second report was called in at 1:55 p.m. May 28 in the 5000 block of 128th Street N. The reports stopped coming into dispatch, probably because deputies advised the solicitor to stop selling in the area, as he didn’t have a permit.
• A resident in the 5000 block of 147th Street N. at 4:03 p.m. May 28 reported lending a person her vehicle several months ago and was still waiting for its return.
• Deputies issued a written warning to a motorist at 9:14 p.m. May 28 in the 5000 block of 149th Street N. for failing to stop at the stop sign at Rosemary Way N. and Everton Avenue N.
• A resident in the 6000 block of 157th Street N. at 6:28 a.m. May 29 reported construction noise prior to 7:00 a.m., in violation of city ordinance. Deputies quickly contacted the construction manager, who had already agreed to stop construction and would wait until 7:00 to start up
HUGO BITS & PIECES
• The Hugo Firefighter’s Relief Association will increase the lumpsum pension benefit by $500 per year of service.
• Staff has revised the personnel policy to exclude paid-on-call firefighters from receiving Earned Sick and Safe Time (ESST) hours and recommends. In 2023 a new law was passed that required employers to provide employees with ESST. The new law became effective Jan.1 and applies to any employer with one or more employees and covered all employees including full-time, parttime, temporary and paid-on-call firefighters.
During the current Legislative Session, several updates were made
again
• A woman who had lent her vehicle out several months ago, went to an address in the 15000 block of Fanning Drive N. in an attempt to get it back in civil fashion, but reported at 9:47 p.m. May 29 that she did not get the vehicle back.
• A vehicle parked in the 4000 block of Empress Way N. at 10:18 a.m. May 31 received a citation under the windshield wipers for displaying tabs that expired in April.
• A patron of the Kwik Trip in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 11:14 a.m. June 1 reported being punched and doused with a liquid while he was at the gas pumps.
• A motorist driving while on the cell phone was cited at midnight June 3 in the 13000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for hands-free violation.
• Deputies were dispatched out to the 15000 block of Freeland Avenue N. at 2:51 a.m. June 3 to check on a business alarm. After checking the perimeter of the building and noticing no signs of force, deputies concluded that thunder probably set off the alarm. A check of weather records indicates that thunderstorms were moving through the area early that morning. Deputies headed out to that same address eight minutes later and were becoming even more convinced that thunder was the culprit. Four minutes later, they were at the 13000 block of Fenway Blvd. N. drawing the same conclusion, as the storm rumbled on.
• At 4:14 p.m. June 3, deputies chased down another false alarm, this time in the 14000 block of Garden Way N., after the homeowners revealed they were putting on their watch and caused it to dial 911 spontaneously.
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies dispatched out to the scene of loud music at 12:23 a.m. June 2 in the 4000 block of 149th Street N. assured the subjects that if they didn’t turn the music off, such that deputies were called out to the scene again, citations would be issued.
• The Hugo Public Works Department was notified to come out and fix a broken door handle on the public bathroom in the 5000 block of Upper 146th Street N., following a report at 9:57 a.m. June 2 to the WCSO.
• An out-of-town person was reported at 11:41 a.m. June 2 for dumping trash in a vacant lot near Finale Avenue N. and 141st Street N. The complainant was able to provide a license plate number, which was registered to an out-of-town address. The dumper was nowhere near the dumping area when deputies arrived on scene, presumably skedaddling to their out-of-town location.
• Residents in the 13000 block of Flay Avenue N. at 4:53 p.m. June 3 were evacuated due to a gas leak. WCSO deputies accompanied the Hugo Fire Department in checking gas levels inside the house in question.
• A motorist was cited at 5:48 p.m. June 3 on Frenchman Road and Oneka Parkway N. for failure to provide proof of insurance, following a traffic stop for expired registration.
• An adult male was arrested for unknown offenses at 9:45 p.m. June 3 on 147th Street N. and Fitzgerald Avenue, following a bicycle stop.
• Deputies on patrol near 157th Street N. and Harrow Avenue N. at 5:42 p.m. June 4 were flagged down by a complainant who reported a theft.
• A driver along Forest Blvd. N. and 134th Street N.
to the ESST law including updating exclusions for the definition of employee. Effective May 25, the law provides exceptions for certain employees that perform certain functions, including paid-on-call and volunteer firefighters.
The League of Minnesota Cities has spoken with the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry regarding accrued ESST hours for paid-on-call firefighters and were advised that employers may modify or change paid time off policies.
• The Hero Gravel Classic Bicycle Ride will be held Aug. 24. The event is a 30- or 47-mile bicycle ride on gravel and paved roads beginning and ending at the Gasthaus Bavarian
at midnight June 5 was cited for failing to stop for a traffic control signal.
• A motorist was cited at 10:25 a.m. June 5 on Oneka Lake Blvd. N. and Geneva Avenue N. for speeding 40 mph in a 30-mph zone.
The driver would admit to going only 33 mph.
• A motor vehicle parked in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N. received a citation under its windshield wipers at 10:40 a.m. June 5 for displaying registration tabs that expired five days earlier.
• The front desk employee of a business in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue N. at 7:16 p.m. June 5 reported a group of juveniles for spraying cleaner around the workout facility and refusing to leave when asked. When a staff member picked up the phone to call dispatch, the youths left. The complainant advised deputies they would be able to identify the youths if needed.
• A door in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue N. was reported broken open at 9:47 p.m. June 5. At 10:07 that same evening, residents in the 5000 block of French Drive N. reported a juvenile donkey-kicking their front door and provided an on-scene video of the incident.
• Deputies conducted a traffic stop at 8:52 p.m. June 6 in the 8000 block of 170th Street N. and issued a citation to the driver for excessive speed. At 7:55 p.m. June 7, another driver was cited for speeding on 170th Street and Henna Avenue.
• Suspicious juveniles riding four-wheelers on the neighbor’s property in the 14000 block of Homestead Avenue N. at 12:13 a.m. June 7 turned out to be the property owners.
• Deputies were dispatched out to the scene of a lawn mower on fire in the 14000 block of Fondant Avenue N. at 5:45 p.m. June 7 and deployed a fire extinguisher to keep the house out of harm’s way.
• A store in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. reported shoplifting at 9:58 p.m. June 7.
• Deputies on expired registration patrol overnight June 7-8 left five tickets under the windshield wipers of vehicles throughout town, some of which had expired by only one week. Three vehicles displaying May 2024 tabs were cited in the 5000 block of Upper 146th Street N., in the 6000 block of 147th Street N. and in the 14000 block of Generation Avenue N. A vehicle with February 2024 tabs was cited in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N., and a vehicle with January 2024 tabs was cited in the 5000 block of Upper 146th Street N.
• A mailbox was reported smashed in the 15000 block of Irish Avenue N. at 12:04 a.m. June 8.
Loretta Harding
Hunter in Stillwater.
• The Northern Lights Car Club will host a car show Sunday, Sept. 15 at Blacksmith Lounge. During the event, the club plans to also host Bingo.
• The city has amended its zoning code to allow for window wells/ egress windows, to extend into the required minimum side yard setback a distance not exceeding 2 feet.
• The City Council has scheduled its midyear budget workshop for 6 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 29 at City Hall.
• The city will pay approximately $57,380 to Landform Professional Services, LLC to evaluate and update the city’s residential zoning code over the next nine months or so.
The Planning Commission and City
Council identified the following goals for 2024:
– Discuss zoning language and geographic considerations for high density residential apartment projects in the city.
– Evaluate and consider adoption of a mixed-use zoning ordinance.
– Evaluate and consider revisions to residential zoning district regulations”.
The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, July 15 at City Hall.
Shannon Granholm
HUGO POLICE REPORTS
Developer ‘ghosts’ city of Centerville
LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER
CENERVILLE — First, developers pulled out of the LaLonde project, and now developers for the Peltier Estates project act like they might be pulling up stakes as well.
The difference between the two is that the LaLonde project developers said they were dropping the project, but the Pelter Estates developers aren’t saying anything.
The Centerville City Council denied an application for a preliminary plat and conditional use permit (CUP) for a planned unit development (PUD) for the Peltier Estates because the would-be developers, Sharper Homes, Inc. of Ham Lake, stopped corresponding with the city. In modern parlance, they “ghosted” the city, said City Administrator/ Engineer Mark Statz. This isn’t the first time developers for the Peltier Estates started the process of developing the site, only to suddenly stop engaging with the city altogether midway through the approval journey.
CENTERVILLE TIDBITS
Sharper Homes first proposed plans to develop the former Moore property at the north end of the city in 2017 and again in 2021. The city was left hanging both times. Will it be three strikes and you’re out for Peltier Estates?
The plan proposed in 2024, which is not completely dead yet, is identical to the earlier plans. The developer was wanting to develop the 18.7-acre site along the 7000 block of 20th Avenue into a 24-unit detached townhome community.
At its April 2 meeting, the Planning and Zoning Commission approved a preliminary plat and CUP for a PUD for Peltier Estates, along with findings of fact and conditions.
The city extended the deadline until July 7 to review documents relating to the development, such as homeowner’s association documents, the development agreement and legal documents pertaining to easements and the CUP for a PUD.
On April 25, city staff sent a letter advising the developer of the deadline extension and
• The city must complete a number of formalities to maintain its Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permit. After the state reissued the Construction Stormwater (CSW) permit last year, the city is now required to update its Minimum Control Measure 4 (MCM) Ordinances. Furthermore, all MS4 permit holders are required to update or revise their MCM regulatory mechanism to be at least as stringent as the CSW requirements for erosion, sediment and waste controls. The Planning and Zoning Commission (PNZ) held a public hearing at their June 4 meeting and received no comments from the public. The commission recommended adopting the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) model ordinances for MCM4 and MCM5 and repealing Chapter 157: Erosion Control (Existing ordinance) in its entirety to comply with the MS4 general permit. In addition, the PNZ recommended repealing text in the following section to avoid duplication of sections in Chapter 157. Therefore, council conducted the first reading of a new Erosion Control Ordinance.
that if the developer wanted to extend the deadline beyond July 7, they would be required to request an extension.
The city advised the developer that without a request for an extension, city staff would have to recommend denial of both the CUP and the preliminary plat.
Not having heard from the developer, the city voted unanimously to deny the developer’s application for a CUP and preliminary plat. “There is no path forward for the city to write the developer’s agreement for them,” Statz said.
Statz also said that when the 60-day deadline is up, the city must take action, either to approve or to deny the application or it would be automatically approved. “And that is not a smart move (for the city),” he said.
“We don’t want to push something forward that is not a complete package and have our hands tied,” Mayor D. Love added.
“It’s important to make a decision,” said City Attorney Kurt Glaser. If the city legitimately wanted to reject a plan, it may do so by saying
there are things that still need to be worked out. “But you can’t just say you haven’t heard from the developer,” he said. “We know there are some parts of the plan that still need to be worked on, such as the proposed homes being too close together for emergency vehicles to move through.”
There is no developer’s agreement, the grading plans are incomplete and there is no critical HOA document. All these reasons are basis to legally deny the application.
And then the developer can come back again for round four, Glaser said.
In denying the application, the city made it known to the developer that denial is where things will stand unless the city hears from them.
“It feels awfully strange to deny an application for development when we want it,” Statz said.
Loretta Harding can be reached by emailing news@presspubs.com or calling 651-407-1200.
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• Every year municipalities and school boards have their books audited and after a presentation, formally accept the annual financial report.
Brad Falteysek, CPA with Abdo, presented the annual financial report, required management communications and audit insights to the council. The city received an unqualified (clean) audit opinion on the financial statements for fiscal year 2023, Abdo said. This means that the city’s statements comply with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAAP), present its financial condition in a fair manner and are free from material misstatements. There were no findings to report for the 2023 fiscal year. City staff recommended that council listen to the presentation of the annual financial report and formally accept the report as presented. With approval, the financial statements will be published on the city‘s web site at www.centervillemn.com and available for inspection by the public.
• The owners of Center Market, at 1801 Main St.,
did not receive a clean audit last year, so to speak, after failing an alcohol and tobacco compliance check by the Centennial Lakes Police Department (CLPD) last November. The CLPD conducts periodic compliance checks to make sure a business is diligent about not selling alcohol or tobacco to minors. Center Mart sold one of these items to the decoy on Nov. 10 last year, and the owners were criminally charged for the offense. As a result, the owners were made to complete additional alcohol and tobacco compliance training with the CLPD. Center Mart’s owners appeared in court and resolved their case with a plea deal, which places them on probation for two years, during which they must be compliant. Center Mart was also assessed a $500 fine for selling to a minor. Glaser noted that no further action would be needed because the owners did all they were supposed to do for the alcohol piece. For the tobacco violation, Glaser recommended a $250 fine for the first offense. Council voted unanimously to seek no further action against Center Mart at this time.
• Thanks to donations from the public, children attending Aug. 15 Kids’ Night, as part of Main Street Market, will have more fun activities in store for them, after council passed a resolution accepting a donation to the city. The city is authorized by statute to accept donations from the public, but must formally accept each donation. The Parks & Recreation Committee, who runs Thursday Main Street Market, along with its volunteers, is seeking to provide high quality events within the main event, such as the Aug. 15 Kids’ Night. Many of the offerings for that evening will be Touch-ATruck, Bounce House, Wargo Nature Center, DNR and a face painter provided all for free to the public. The popular face painter (Linda John), will be free, thanks to a $100 donation from the Michael Govinazzo Agency, Inc. The city is still looking for a second donation for the Aug. 15 event. Main Street Market Thursday evenings will start July 18 and run through the rest of the summer.
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Fire Department, Xcel Energy partner for
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
A new, unique training exercise for emergency personnel has found a home in Hugo.
The White Bear Lake Fire Department and Xcel Energy held a collaborative practice routine at Xcel’s training center in Hugo. The exercise simulated a gas and electrical emergency, anticipating a real-life event. The exercise was the first under the department and Xcel Energy’s partnership, which was formed in 2023.
“The department contacted our public safety team and requested training on natural gas and electricity do’s and don’ts,” said Xcel Director for Gas Operations Nicole Elmasry. “We asked if they wanted to do a boots-on-the-ground drill where we could simulate the situation.”
Xcel Energy has conducted its own past field drills to teach electrical safety. However, Elmasry said that what made the exercise special was its mock setting to show these emergencies in real-time. “It’s one thing to look at something in a classroom over a PowerPoint presentation,” added Elmasry. “It’s more real life when you can simulate something in the field.”
The exercise involved a mock-up neighborhood featuring small buildings meant to depict houses. Addi-
tionally, a fake, bent telephone pole was positioned in the neighborhood to simulate an electrical emergency.
The exercise also involved a fabricated odor that, when released, gave the impression of a gas leak.
When the exercise began, Xcel Energy employees read the area to determine the danger of the gas leak.
Once readings confirmed the leak’s presence, employees simulated shutting off the expelling gas line.
At the same time, service members disconnected the
electricity from the telephone pole. Both firefighters and service crew members then monitored the scene to ensure the gas was gone. Firefighters used one of their truck houses to spray water across the ground in the event of a potential fire.
“This was a great exercise to interact with Xcel employees on gas and electric accidents,” said Assistant Fire Chief Joel Schmidt. “Usually, when we have that interaction, it’s under emergency settings. Knowing the expectations from both ends is great before we get to the scene.”
Schmidt said he hoped the exercise would give participants more knowledge about prioritizing safety. “I want our people to make the situation safe for everyone,” said Schmidt. “That goes for the public, utility companies, or first responders. I don’t want anybody coming in and creating danger that is not needed.”
Erik Suchy is a staff writer at Press Publications. To reach him, contact him at 651-407-1226, or email him at whitebearpress@presspubs.com
Firefighters prepare to secure the site of a pretend electrical emergency during training.
PHOTOS BY ERIK
Pull-Out Section
TUESDAY, JULY 16 - SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024 •
Enjoyment for all at 33rd annual Fete des Lacs
BY OLIVIA DECKER PRESS INTERN
The City of Centerville and Centerville Lions Club will “shoot for the moon” July 16-21 as they host the 33rd annual Fete des Lacs festival. Fete des Lacs (or “Festival of Lakes”) is a five-day event honoring the history and beauty of the parks, lakes and trails in the Centerville area. This year’s festival theme is “shoot for the moon.”
From athletes to gamers, car enthusiasts to music lovers, Fete des Lacs offers fun and entertainment for all ages and interests. Highlights of the festival
include a parade, fireworks, family fest and public safety night. Most events are free to the public.
Friday night Bingo may be the most anticipated event of the week. Centerville Lions President Mel Lawlis says “last year was our first year that we did BINGO and it was a big success, and we’re looking to hopefully expand that this year.”
Like last year, Bingo is scheduled at the same time as the KidsDance kid-friendly DJ. Lawlis says “people had a lot of fun” at this pair of events last year as parents can play Bingo while their kids enjoy the DJ.
Festival-goers can also look forward to Saturday night’s live music featuring Jake Nelson Band. “He was really, really good last year and I’m really excited
to have him back,” Lawlis said.
Fete des Lacs also has plenty of opportunities for those with a competitive side. There will be kickball tournaments, 5K and 8K runs, a community paddle race and cornhole tournaments. It’s not too late to register for some of these activities. Visit the Fete des Lacs Facebook page (Centerville Fete des Lacs Summer Festival) for registration opportunities and more.
For more information and a full events schedule visit http://fetedeslacs.org.
Grand marshal dedicates himself to
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
From several Life Saving Awards to Officer of the Year, Jon Krueger can now add another item to his list of accomplishments — Grand marshal.
Jon Krueger, a retired corporal of the Centennial Lakes Police Department (CLPD), has been selected as the 2024 Fete des Lacs Grand Marshal.
“I was surprised,” Krueger said of his selection. “I’ve been a part of the community; I have lived here for a long time … I don’t feel like I’m that important.”
Krueger graduated from Anoka High School in 1987. Right after graduation, he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He served for four years in various parts of the world. He then started college in 1992 and completed his degree in 1996. Prior to starting with CLPD in 1998, he served as a reserve officer with the Coon Rapids Police Department. He has lived in Centerville since 1998, where he raised three children with his wife Ladine.
Since 2019, Krueger has served on the Centerville Planning and Zoning Board. He currently serves as chair of that board.
Throughout the years, he also
served as a Lion and as a member of the Centennial Youth Hockey Board. He was also known to sit with area elementary school youth for lunch and serve as a mentor to them.
In 2023, American Legion Post 566 named Krueger the Outstanding Police Officer of the Year.
“He has dedicated himself to our community and our safety,” said Lion Nancy Johnson. “Jon is a great friend of the community. When his name was mentioned, it was unanimous that we wanted to ask him.”
The grand marshal title will be a challenge for Krueger because he is not a fan of being the center of attention. When Krueger retired as a corporal from CLPD after 25 years of service, he didn’t want the local paper to cover it and turned down the interview.
“I don’t like the limelight,” he said.
Krueger retired last November and said retirement has been “flying by.”
He says his “honey (to)-do list, which includes a variety of home renovation projects, has kept him busy. This July, Ladine will join Jon in retirement after a 41-year career with the federal government.
As grand marshal, Krueger will have to accept some attention during the 2024 parade at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20.
Centennial Lakes Police Chief James Mork poses for a photo with Corporal Jon Krueger. Krueger was selected as Outstanding Officer of the Year in 2023.
Former Centennial Lakes Police Chief James Coan recognizes Officer Jon Krueger for his then 20 years of service with the department back in 2018.
2024 annual Fete des Lacs Logo Contest winners named
The city received 89 entries from the Centennial Middle School students/ teachers and 143 entries from the Centerville Elementary School for the 2024 Fete des Lacs logo contest. The contest committee had to choose a first and second-place winner from each school and honorable mentions.
Mayor D. Love presented the winning students with a letter of congratulations, a an award certificate and a check.
Centerville Elementary contestants: Lily D., fifth grade, won first place fetching her a $100 check. Lucy S., fifth grade, won second place fetching her a $50 check; and Mila K., kindergarten,
won honorable mention fetching her a $25 check.
Centennial Middle School contestants: Ellie S., eighth grade, won first place; Avery T., eighth grade, won second place; and Alexanderia M., seventh grade, won honorable mention.
The two first place winners will have their logos placed on Fete des Lacs flyers and the 5K/8K T-shirts.
The city of Centerville would like to thank all participants, teachers and staff for their dedication to this program and congratulations to the winning students.
CENTENNIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
Parade Route 2024
Just a friendly reminder of the Main Street road closure on parade day from approximately 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The street closure is in blue. Orange is the staging area for the parade floats.
The red marks are no entry/ exit points and are where street barricades will be placed. 20th Avenue and Centerville Road (in green) remain open for use. Please plan accordingly during this time frame. For weather info, event updates and/or cancellations, follow Centennial Lakes Police Department and Fete des Lacs on Facebook.
Students at Centerville Elementary and Centennial Middle School were eligible to participate in the contest
CENTERVILLE
LILY D. (5th) Lucy S. (5th) Mila K. (K) 1st Place 2nd Place Honorable Mention
Ellie S. (8th) Avery T. (8th) Alexanderia M. (7th) 1st Place 2nd Place Honorable Mention
FETE DES LACS
EVENT SCHEDULE
Main Street Market, next to Centerville Elementary. Food trucks, farm products, local groups and organizations, and artisan vendors.
Bald Eagle Water Ski Show, Trail Side Park on Centerville Lake. Free freezies and water from Centerville Lions.
Concessions & Beer Garden hosted by Centerville Lions Club
BINGO hosted by Centerville Lions Club
KidsDance Interactive DJ for families Kids of all ages will enjoy this family-friendly event!
All-Star Kickball Game: Lions and Local Businesses vs. CLPD/CFD Fireworks Display, LaMotte Park. Rain Date 10 PM Saturday.
Concessions & Beer Garden hosted by Centerville Lions Club, LaMotte Park. Plus Food Trucks! Kickball Tournaments, LaMotte Park. Schedule and timing will vary based on registered teams.
To Register: Call Ryan at 651-206-4436.
5K/8K Runs, LaMotte Park. Register at: bit.ly/fdlruns24 or day of.
Kids Run, LaMotte Park. Register at: bit.ly/fdlruns24 or day of.
Fete des Lacs Community Parade, visit fetedeslacs.org/parade for route and info. Family Fest & Community Events, LaMotte Park
• Ice Cream Social, LaMotte Park. Sponsored by Carbone’s Pizzeria.
• Quad Chamber of Commerce Business & Vendor Expo
• Ninja Anywhere Mobile youth physical adventure course.
• Kids Activities: Magic Show & Trick Showcase by Karl AchiLLes Magic Co, Bounce Houses, Balloon Animals, Face Painting, NERF Archery, Kids Crafts, and More - all FREE of charge!
• Lions KidSight USA Community Eye Screening for kids 6 mo-6 yrs. Plus, recycle old glasses!
• GameTruck A unique mobile video gaming theater for all ages.
• Cornhole Tournament, LaMotte Park. To register: Call Dan at 612-910-0994.
• Car Show by Cops-n-Rodders Free to view, $10 for car entry. Award show at 3:30 PM Jake Nelson Band (Cover charge $10, open to ages 18+. 21+ bring ID for wristband.)
Paddle des Lacs, Trail Side Park. Bring your canoe, kayak, or paddle board for a casual race on Centerville Lake. Pre-register at bit.ly/fdlpaddle24 for a chance to win a dry bag!
All Friday events located at Laurie LaMotte Memorial Park.
All Wednesday events located at St. Genevieve’s Parish Community Center. Lions Concessions for purchase.
Indicates a FREE event.
All Tuesday events located at Hidden Spring Park. Pizza will be available for purchase.
Congratulations to our Festival logo design competition winners!
LEFT: 1st Place at Centerville Elem School, Lily D. (Grade 5)
BELOW: 1st Place at Centennial Middle School, Ellie S. (Grade 8)
Starting this month, the Animal Humane Society (AHS) is no longer going to fund free spay/neuter surgeries, a program they have had in place since 2015. A program nonprofit organizations like Pet Project Rescue and Bitty Kitty Brigade have come to rely on. The organizations have a strategy of “trap-neuter-return” (TNR), to control the state’s feral cat populations.
According to a press release, de-
scribed the situation as an “emergency.” “The overpopulation of community cats is caused by barriers to veterinary care in under- resourced areas, the increasing costs of veterinary care, lack of appointment availability and cat owners not keeping their unfixed pets indoors … Because of low cost spay/ neuter in the past, the program was doable. Now we are at risk of no TNR, meaning more cats taking over neighborhoods and communities, and more
kittens being born and struggling to survive in the streets.”
Pet Project Rescue is taking donations for TNR, which will be used to help all cat rescuers in the state who need assistance in paying for sterilization surgeries. The hope is to raise enough
money to get the cat rescue community through the early fall, which is historically the end of kitten season in Minnesota. For more information, or to donate, vitist fundrazr.com and search “Emergency TNR for Minnesota.”
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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
Tidbits Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com
Frank Watson
County website address changes
Washington County has a new website address, washingtoncountymn. gov, which complies with Federal Homeland Security recommendations.. The public can continue using the former website address, www. co.washington.mn.us, which will automatically redirect to washingtoncountymn.gov.
All .gov websites across the United States are official government websites. The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA), a division of Homeland Security, ensures that .gov domains are available solely to U.S.-based government organizations and publicly controlled entities. Since .gov can only be used by government entities, the public can trust the information from washingtoncountymn.gov pages and email addresses. CISA also provides additional layers of security that other domains (such as .com, .org, .us) do not.
This fall, the county will transition all county email addresses to the washingtoncountymn.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT INTERN
The City of Hugo, a rapidly growing suburb in Washington County, is seeking a recent graduate or qualified undergraduate or graduate student in the urban planning or related field to work as a community development intern. The salary is $18.00/hour. We anticipate the position to run at least six months and estimate a 40-hour work week. The internship program offers an opportunity to work on a wide range of areas and issues related to community development. The full job description and application are available on the City’s web site at www.ci.hugo.mn.us/employment, or at Hugo City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Ave. N., Hugo, MN 55038.
Please send your cover letter, resume, and completed application to Rachel Juba at Rjuba@ci.hugo.mn.us.
Application deadline is Friday, July 12, 2024, at 4:30 p.m.
Talk about avoiding total July 4th disaster. It was as bad of a start you can have to July 4th break. Thursday July 4th’s nearly all day rain (here in the Metro) put a damper on just about everything outdoors, including postponing evening fireworks. Some communities moved their fireworks show up a day. Others, including White Bear Lake, moved fireworks back a day or over the weekend. Delaying a day made for a better overall fireworks experience as Friday to Sunday’s weather was spectacular. Are we about to shake this “cooler and wet” weather pattern? Well, it looks like at least for this forecast period we’ll be treated to warmer and more humid weather. Thunderstorms will be more scattered and isolated for this period but we could see a return of less humid weather after this period.
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.
gov address. Washington County Library’s website address will not change. It remains www.washcolib.org. County libraries renew contract for interlibrary
loan system
The Washington County Board of Commissioners has renewed a contract with the MNLINK interlibrary loan system. MNLINK is a statewide Interlibrary Loan (ILL) system supported and managed by the state of Minnesota through Minitex. It allows libraries to supplement their collections by providing broader access to rare, hard-to-acquire, or specialized materials. In 2023, Washington County Library users borrowed over 60,000 items from other libraries using MNLINK.
Earlier this year, MNLINK made a significant upgrade by transitioning to a new software platform with an improved public interface. The contract, effective through June 30, 2029, gives the county access to the MNLINK software and logistical support. There is no direct financial commitment as part of the agreement.
Sheriff’s Office receives six fire suppression devices from Masons
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received six fire suppression devices (FSTs) valued at $6,000 donated on behalf of St. John’s #1 through St. Paul-Macalester #290 Masonic Lodge. Patrol deputies can use these valuable tools in response to calls for service involving an active fire. The portable, one-time-use FST is a highly effective, environmentally safe aerosol fire suppression solution. While the fire department responds, deputies can deploy the FST to extinguish flames and reduce heat. In many instances, the deployment of the FST can suppress and even extinguish a fire and can help prevent re-ignition at recommended concentrations.
County accepting funding applications for communitybased opioid projects
Washington County is accepting applications to fund community-based projects related to the opioid crisis from
June 24 through Aug. 9.
Up to $500,000 of Washington County opioid settlement funding will be distributed through this round of applications in 2024. This funding opportunity is open to everyone, and applicants can range from organizations to individual community members.
Eligible projects must serve Washington County community members and fall into one of these four categories: access, education/ outreach, evidence-based treatment/ interventions, and primary prevention. Diversity and underserved communities will be prioritized across all funding categories. Those interested can view the application form at www. washingtoncountymn.gov/Opioid to learn more and apply. Applications are due by August 9, 2024.
Opioid grant funding is also available from the State of Minnesota. See the Opioid Epidemic Response Services RFP to learn more. Proposals are due by August 6, 2024.
The public can consider applying for one or both funding opportunities.
COUNTY BRIEFS
JULY 11, 2024
Hoecke picked for Team USA, commits to Gophers
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Big things are happening this summer for Elena Hoecke, Centennial’s 6-foot-3 volleyball prodigy.
The 16-year-old middle blocker was selected last week for the Team USA U19 roster to play in a tournament in Honduras in July.
“I’m very excited about it,” said Hoecke. “We’ll play teams from places like Cuba, Canada and Puerto Rico.”
She made the national team in tryouts at Anaheim, California.
“The top 20 girls in the country were there. It was very intense,” she reflected.
Hoecke, the top-ranked recruit in the state for the Class of 2026, has committed verbally to the Gophers, one of the nation’s top programs.
“Minnesota checks all my boxes,” said Hoecke, who was fielding about 15 offers. “Their culture, the family feel, the way support each other, and I love the coaches and their values.”
The tournament in Honduras, slated for July 14-20, is called the North America, Central America and the Caribbean Volleyball Federation (NORCECA) Girls U19 Continental Championship.
Hoecke was one of 150 players invited to the National
Team Development Camp in Colorado Springs, Colorado, in June. This was her third year in that camp. “This has helped me learn and develop in the USA volleyball system,” she said.
At this year’s camp, 20 players were selected to try out for the national team. Hoecke was among them, and one of 12 chosen for the roster. She’s the only Minnesotan.
Keegan Cook, the Gophers head coach, is one of the assistants for the national team. The head coach is Jamie Morrison of Texas A&M University.
When Hoecke made her college decision, the University of Minnesota
website announced that “Gopher volleyball got a big commitment … Elena Hoecke, the state’s top-rated recruit in the 2026 class, according to PrepDig.”
Hoecke is regarded as a fivestar recruit by both PrepDig and VballRecruiter, the press release added. PrepDig ranks her 14th nationally.
The volleyball team is one of the most successful programs at the University of Minnesota, with NCAA regional appearances 14 times in the last 18 seasons, and three trips to the Final Four.
After injury layoff, Kaiser reclaims her place among racquetball elite
KEN FIFE | CONTRIBUTED
Mahtomedi graduate Ava Kaiser earned racquetball AllAmerica honors for the seventh time.
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Ava Kaiser, who’s been the state’s top-ranked female racquetball player since 2021 while collecting batches of national medals since age seven, is back on the courts after missing almost a year.
“After strengthening my knee and working past my injury, I worked hard on getting back to the court,” reported Kaiser, a 2023 Mahtomedi graduate and current University of Northwestern student. “I was out for about 11 months.”
The injury in January of 2023 sidelined her until November, when she came back and teamed with Barb Hoffner of Bloomington to capture the Minnesota Racquetball state doubles championship. Kaiser and Hoffner then started 2024 winning doubles at the Hall of Fame tournament, a Tier I event that includes professionals and amateurs, at the University of Minnesota in February.
Kaiser competed in Men’s Elite at the state tournament and won the consolation title in mid-April. “I entered Men’s Elite since I had already won numerous Men’s A titles, and the women’s divisions did not chal-
Mahtomedi runner leads local Grandma’s finishers
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Among the 7,548 runners who finished Grandma’s Marathon on Saturday were about three dozen with White Bear Lake, Mahtomedi and Vadnais Heights addresses.
CONTRIBUTED
First to the finish line among those was Mike Rohlinger, 24, of Mahtomedi, with a time of two hours, 45 minutes and 40 seconds, which placed 239th overall, in the top three percent. Rohlinger is a former White Bear Lake and
Zephyr baseball honors listed
Five members of Mahtomedi’s state baseball runner-up were named to the All-Metro East team. They are seniors Max
Kansas State distance runner.
Michael Peterman, 45, of Mahtomedi, was 10th of 272 in his age group with a 2:53:13 finish.
Also under three hours was Nate Tobeck, 19, of White Bear Lake in 2:42:04, which was 317th overall.
The 40 kilometer race (26.2 miles) goes from Two Harbors to Duluth along the shore of Lake Superior.
Following is a list of local finishers, listed alphabetically.
White Bear Lake, men — Michael Allen, 26, 3:27;16; Jared Bartz, 29, 3:24:02; Sam Jenson, 24, 3:45:51; Nathan Kesti, 22, 3:55:05; Spencer Kramer, 28, 3:12:42; Isaac Murayama, 22, 3:48:51; Mike McGoldrick, 32, 3:58:36; Allan Meek, 20, 3:50:34; Sean Miller, 28, 3:01:49; Paul Morris, 22, 3:48:26; William Morris, 25, 5:02:41; Connor Smeed, 22, 4:41:41; Nate Tobeck, 19, 2:52:04; Danny Vang,
Strecker (pitcher, first base), Austin Felling (catcher), Jack Erickson (designated hitter, pitcher) and Josh Donna (shortstop); and junior Ethan Felling (pitcher, center field). Zephyrs team awards went to
• Vadnais Heights, men — Jesse Heaton, 31, 3:58:19; Anthony Wolf, 28, 4:48:14
• Vadnais Heights, women — Lily Langevin, 26, 3:59:05; Sara Lewenstein, 30, 4:40:17; Claire Schneider, 21, 3:22:26; Payton Schold, 26, 5:21:38
• Mahtomedi, men — Michael Determan, 45, 2:53:13; Ryan Olson, 28, 3:56:50; Mike Rohlinger, 24, 2:45:40; Earl Skrip, 51, 4:23:56
• Mahtomedi, women — Lauren Sigfred, 30, 4:46:57
Strecker and Ethan Felling (most outstanding players), Erickson (offensive player), Austin Felling (defensive player), Winston Wisely (rookie of the year), Tommy Becker (most improved), Mike Kasey (teammate of the year), and Gunnar Sather (Mahtomedi Baseball Program Player of the Year). All-state tournament honors went to Erickson, and Ethan and Austin Felling. The team’s policy is to not share statistics.
lenge me,” said Kaiser. Meanwhile, she retained her No.1 ranking because no Minnesotans beat anyone ranked higher than her nationally.
At junior girls nationals in California in June, Kaiser placed second in 18U singles, and won 18U doubles with Naomi Ros of Texas. She was named an All American for the seventh time.
“I missed nationals (in 2023) for the first time in eight years,” said Kaiser. That meant missing nationals as well. She’s now gearing for the 2024 nationals in Guatemala in December.
Kaiser had a “weird injury” called Hoffa’s Syndrome. “I treated it conservatively but it did not improve much,” she said. “So in March, I went to a specialist who did an MRI, but nothing was torn as he thought.” Preferring to avoid surgery, she skipped tournaments and concentrated on therapy. About her current schedule, she said, “There are not many tournaments indoors happening now. Things get busier in August.” She is taking a summer class to lighten her schedule for fall when she will be prepping for the world tournament at the Olympic training center in Colorado and in Texas with Ros.
CONTRIBUTED
Elena Hoecke posed on the U of M campus. She will join the Gopher volleyball team in 2026.
Mike Rohlinger
ZEPHYR SPORTS BRIEF
“We are thrilled to have Dave Haveman join our team,” said Dr. Val Rae Boe,
superintendent of Northeast Metro 916.
“His extensive experience and deep commitment to special education will be instrumental in advancing our mission to support and empower every student. We are confident that Dave will significantly contribute to our organization and the communities we serve.”
With over 27 years in the education field, Haveman has worked with traditional districts, charter schools, intermediate schools and non-public education programs. He has previously served as the executive director of student services for Lakeville Area Schools and the director of special services for Hastings Public Schools.
“I am excited to join Northeast Metro 916 and to work with such a dedicated team,” said Haveman. “I look forward to contributing to the continued success of our special education programs and to positively impacting the lives of our students and their families.”
Dave Haveman
North metro artist explores variety of mediums
Daniel Kuchenbecker is a local artist and art teacher. He recently moved from Hugo to Lino Lakes. Recently, Press Publications sat down with him to learn more about his artistic career and passions.
Q. Tell us about yourself.
A. Hello! My name is Daniel Kuchenbecker, and I am an artist/art teacher in Lino Lakes. I am married, with a son and another on the way! When I am not painting landscapes and making pottery, I enjoy playing guitar.
Q. What initially drew you to pursue art, and how has your journey evolved since graduating from the University of Wisconsin-Stout? What is your day job?
A. By day, I teach art at a local high school. This is what I went to school for while also taking many other art and design classes. I don’t think at that point I had ambitions about being a practicing artist — I loved teaching and I had some art skill, so it made sense to get a teaching degree and teach high school art. While teaching, I decided that I needed to have better mastery of my subjects in order to teach at a higher level. This led to large strides in pottery (which I had no real experience with) and painting. During all of this, I decided to start selling pottery at art fairs and it just expanded from there, becoming a small business. Over the pandemic I got really into watercolors,
and that has taken off in a different way, leading to exhibitions, art fairs and being the latest vice president of the Minnesota Watercolor Society. So far, everything has developed pretty organically, just a natural progression as skills and interests developed.
Q. What artistic mediums have you explored? What do you enjoy doing the most right now?
A. My primary medium in college was drawing, which has been very useful. As mentioned before, I do watercolor and pottery the majority of the time, as well as some oil painting — mainly as commission work. I have also done a couple of book covers and other odd jobs. I really like doing work in different mediums — it helps get through creative ruts and prevent burnout.
Q. Watercolor seems to hold a special place in your heart. Can you elaborate on what specifically about watercolor speaks to you, and how you strive to capture the essence of a scene or object through this medium?
A. Watercolor just seems to jell with my personality. The way I paint is relatively quick and easy to mess up! Which makes it fun and exciting, also satisfying my personal enjoyment of instant gratification, haha! I like oil, but working on a painting for a week can drive me a bit crazy at times; most of my watercolors are completed in one sitting. It’s a great balance of control and also giving up some control — letting the paint interact with you, sort of directing you as to what it wants to do (like improvising music with other musicians or dancing). As for capturing the essence of a scene, it is very helpful to paint en plein air if you can, or work from your own reference photos after scouting, or spur of the moment. Either way, if a scene you are presently in speaks to you enough to paint it, it’s probably for a reason. There is some connection whether you understand why or not; sometimes art is smarter than the artist! Of course, it also helps to think about color palette, composition and creating some sort of narrative in the painting.
Q. How does your environment inspire and influence your artwork?
A. Most of the scenes that I paint are pretty local in either Minnesota or Wisconsin. I paint what I see and where I am at, so I would say my environment IS my artwork. We live in a beautiful place, and I feel lucky to have so many great subjects immediately around
me to paint. That said, I do like to paint scenes from my travels, and hope eventually to paint scenes from other countries that I go to.
Q. What made you realize you like working with clay?
A. Honestly, it started by just needing to get better so as to teach it well. Turns out, the pottery wheel is pretty addicting once you get the hang of it! Then I signed up for an art fair (probably before I was ready), which really put the pressure on me to improve and churn out work! It was an awesome baptism by fire! The St. Croix Pottery Tour has also been incredibly inspirational. Seeing so many top-tier potters every year has kept me on my toes and kept the quality of my own work in perspective. I still have a lot of growth left! Beyond that, clay is physical and messy and just so much fun! Every time you open the kiln is like Christmas morning!
Q. Looking ahead, what are your aspirations and goals for your artistic career, and how do you plan to continue evolving and growing as an artist?
A. Even though I have been making art for a while, I also feel like I’m just getting started! I have a long way to go to achieve what I want to. I plan to keep training and growing, developing skills, applying for any shows, exhibitions, galleries, etc. that I can, and just see where it takes me. Last year the highlight was making it into the American Watercolor Society International Show out in New York City; shortterm, I am hoping to get into as many high-quality watercolor exhibitions as I can. I hope to push myself as far as I can go and find out where that is!
Q. Where can people find your work?
A. My website is https://www.kuchenbecker.art. You can find paintings, prints, pottery and other information (such as which art fairs I will be at) there! I also have an Etsy page at https://www.etsy.com/ shop/DKuchenbeckerFineArt
Q. Anything else you want to add?
A. If you don’t pursue any artistic endeavors, it’s never too late to start!
Compiled by Shannon Granholm
Daniel Kuchenbecker, of Lino Lakes, is an artist and art teacher. Pictured at right is a stoneware vase, depicting a fish and plant fossil.
PHOTOS BY DANIEL KUCHENBECKER | CONTRIBUTED
A watercolor of a sailboat docked in Grand Marais. The painting was accepted in the 156th American Watercolor Society International Exhibition.
A watercolor painting of people enjoying outdoor dining at Aster cafe in St. Anthony Main.
Petal to the metal: An inside look at the 2024 Master Gardener’s Tour
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
The 2024 University of Minnesota Extension Washington County Master Gardener’s Tour is around the corner, and Press Publications has an inside look at two of its featured players.
One is Barbara Stalsberg from White Bear Lake. Stalsberg has been the tour coordinator for the Washington County Master Gardeners program since 2019. Before that, Stalsberg was a longtime member, joining in 2013. Stalsberg says the idea to create the tour came from simply realizing that Washington County did not have its own tour compared to other counties.
“Since I began volunteering, I started visiting gardens from some of the other master gardeners,” said Stalsberg. “I began asking others if Washington County had ever done a tour of their gardens, and everyone said no. When I saw that Hennepin County did one, I contacted their county’s program. I asked them to give me some pointers on creating one for Washington County. Afterward, I submitted a proposal to our advisory board, and they decided to give it a shot.”
For this year’s tour,
Stalsberg said that it will not be much different from past ones. “The gardens we feature will be different, but the educational aspects will stay the same,” said Stalsberg. “We’re still going to teach people about climate change and readiness when it comes to planting. We’ll discuss different tree types better suited for planting in warmer climates than cold ones. These are topics we try to keep consistent each year.”
A lifelong planter herself, Stalsberg cited perennials and bergamot as her favorites. When asked if she would consider having her gardens
featured in a future tour, Stalsberg said she was uncertain. “It’s hard for people to show their gardens to others for fear it might get judged,” said Stalsberg. “That, or they might get told off on what they have or haven’t done to make it look better.”
Another person of note is Laura Hathaway, a Hugo resident who has volunteered for the program since 2016. Hathaway is originally from Chicago and says her love for gardening started while attending the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Hathaway credits her then-roommate for getting her interested. “I remember
her having flashcards of different plants, including regular and latin names,” Hathaway remembered. “One summer, we worked in the college’s trial gardens. Even though it was hot and humid, I just got into it, and it’s progressed slowly since.”
Hathaway’s Chicago home contained a small garden lot, where she mainly planted tomatoes. Upon moving to Hugo, she took advantage of her property’s 3 acres to expand her plants. “Sometimes I’m still overwhelmed at the size of it,” said Hathaway. “But it’s gradually improved over the years.”
Several of Hathaway’s
gardens will be featured in this year’s tour. One is Hathaway’s vegetable garden, which she says is one of her favorites. “I love planting tomatoes,” said Hathaway. “The main one I am growing this year
IF YOU GO
is called Cipolla’s Pride, which I use for tomato and pasta sauce.” Hathaway has published a recipe book with help from Master Gardeners. The book includes recipes involving vegetables that other Master Gardener members have grown in their gardens and different gardening tips.
Hathaway also grows Hosta plants and milkweed, which will also be part of the tour. Hathaway will set up an educational table to inform tourgoers about climate change and its effect on trees. For more information about the garden tour, visit https://washingtoncountymg.org/wcmglearn-grow-garden-tour.
Erik Suchy is a staff writer at Press Publications. To reach him, contact him at 651-407-1229, or email him at whitebearnews@ presspubs.com
What: Washington County Master Gardener Summer Garden Tour
When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, July 20
Where: Seven gardens located in White Bear Lake, Stillwater, Lake Elmo and Oakdale.
Details: The tour will include vegetable gardens in addition to traditional gardens. The Garden Tour features gardens designed, created and maintained by volunteers with the Master Gardener Volunteer Program. For more information, or to purchase advance tickets, visit https://washingtoncountymg. org/wcmg-learn-grow-garden-tour.
CONTRIBUTED
Barbara Stalsberg has been the tour coordinator for the Washington County Master Gardener’s Tour since 2019.
LAURA HATHAWAY | CONTRIBUTED
Hugo resident Laura Hathaway is having her garden featured in this year’s Master Gardener’s Tour.
