City spurs to action after accident
BY LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING WRITER
An accident involving a motorcyclist launched into a day care playground at 1980 Center Street has resulted in immediate action from adults in Centerville to address safety issues.
Following public commentary and ensuing discussion, the Centerville City Council directed city staff to waste no time in erecting a concrete jersey barrier along Center Street, to seek school safety designation for the day care, and to look into lowering vehicle speeds along 20th Avenue. The directive was carried by a vote of 4-1, with Council Member Raye Taylor opposed.
20th Avenue before crossing the parallel walking path and plummeting into a ditch, said day care parent Cara Johnson. The northbound biker then catapulted back up the ditch and launched through the chain link fence on 20th Avenue and onto the playground. No children were hurt, but the motorcyclist lay seriously injured at the scene.
BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
Multiple exchange students in the Forest Lake Area School District are looking
forward to all the experiences Minnesota, and the United States, has to offer them during the calendar school year.
From attending the Minnesota State Fair to
attending a Forest Lake High School football game, the students are looking forward to many more experiences for memories that will last a lifetime.
Forest Lake Area High School
“When I was in high school, I always wanted to be an exchange
SEE EXCHANGE STUDENTS, PAGE 3
The motorcyclist on 20th Avenue at Center Street lost control while approaching town and veered off
Johnson, whose sons attend the day care, noted that too many motorists along the corridor speed and tailgate other vehicles and called for immediate action on five principal changes. A barrier to protect school and walking path should be installed and funded by the county, so the burden doesn’t fall on the small business, she said. A solid-line no-passing zone and reduced speed limit must accompany
SEE ACCIDENT, PAGE 10
Hugo joins list of cities to become a GreenStep City
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
The city will soon join more than 149 cities that are mindful of sustainability. The city of Hugo has long prided itself on water conservation and other sustainability efforts but has never gone out of its way to receive “bragging rights,” City Administrator Bryan Bear explained.
“Maybe we should be proud of ourselves for some of these things,” he said. “We have not been in the position of seeking out accolades for many of the practices that we have taken.”
The Minnesota GreenStep Cities program helps cities achieve their sustainability and quality-of-life goals. The continuous improvement program is based on a menu of 29 optional best practices.
Each best practice can be implemented, as decided by city elected officials, staff and community members, by completing one or more actions from a list of four to eight actions to a 1-, 2- or 3-star level. The voluntary actions are tailored to all Minnesota cities and focus on cost savings and energy use reduction while encouraging civic innovation. In fall 2007, Minnesota’s
Clean Energy Resource Teams (CERTs) held regional listening sessions to discuss community-based energy opportunities and the state’s Next Generation Energy Act of 2007. The idea of creating a free sustainable cities program that would challenge, assist and recognize cities that were “green stars” was born. This idea was taken up by the 2008 Legislature, which
directed the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA), the Division of Energy Resources at the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and CERTs to recommend actions that cities could elect to take voluntarily. Representatives from cities, nonprofit organizations, businesses and state government agencies
SEE GREENSTEP, PAGE 11
The Heilmans and Janne Mook (right) welcome Gabriel Comin (middle) to Minnesota at the airport.
ONGOING EVENTS
HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’
When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31: and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month
Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.
Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited. Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com
COMMUNITY STEM NIGHT When: 6:30 to 8 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4
Where: Centerville Elementary, 1721 Westview St. Details: Join Centerville PTA, Cub Scout Pack 432 and Scouts BSA Troop 136 for a night of STEM presentations and hands-on activities. Contact: info@cubpack432.com
CURRENT EVENTS
SCARECROW CRAWL
When: Oct. 24-Oct.31
Where: Rookery Activity Center, 7690 Village Drive, Lino Lakes
Details: Come decorate a scarecrow for your chance to win a prize! Participants will make a scarecrow and place it along the path at The Rookery where members and visitors can vote on their favorite scarecrow. Scarecrows must be submitted for entry by 4 p.m.
on Thursday, Oct.24. Voting begins at 4:30 p.m. on Oct. 24 and goes through Thursday, Oct. 31. Local businesses and organizations are welcome to join. Contact: 651-982-2468
TRICK OR TREAT
When: 2 to 4:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 31
Where: Good Life Senior Living, 5260 127th Street N, Hugo
Details: Join us for trick or treating for Halloween. Contact: (651) 426-1335
CRAFT & VENDOR FAIR
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2
Where: Centennial High School, 4757 North Road, Circle Pines
Details: Craft & vendor fair in the high school gym. Over 50 vendors, a gym full of unique, creative, crafty, handmade and homemade goodies. Swag bags to first 30 customers who bring a nonperishable food shelf donation for local community/ Come support local small business and local community! Contact: hangouteventsrock@gmail. com
WATER’S EDGE VENDOR SHOW
When: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Where: Water’s Edge community room, 15290 Farnham Ave., Hugo
Details: Come and shop for unique items for yourself or the holidays. Contact: (651) 407-7047
BALD EAGLE HALF MARATHON
When: 8 a.m. Sunday, Nov. 3
Where: 5767 Hugo Road, White Bear Township
Details: Quiet course around Bald Eagle Lake and surrounding countryside, followed by pancake breakfast. Contact: mmraces.com
KOWALSKI’S STRIVE 10 MILER AND 5K
When: Noon Sunday, Nov. 3
Where: Boatworks Commons, 4495 Lake Ave. S.
Details: 10 mile course around White Bear Lake; 5K on path along lake. Proceeds support Strive scholarship program. Contact: whitebearrotary.org
LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST: OWLS When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 13
Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes
Details: Free naturalist-led program for those 50+. May include trail hike. Registration not required; equipment provided. Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com
EXCHANGE STUDENTS: North metro families host for 2024-2025 school year
FROM PAGE 1
student myself,” said Jessie Fielder, of Wyoming. “Then as an adult, I always wanted to do it (host an exchange student) when my kids got older.”
Fielder will be hosting her second exchange student, Eva Biasetto, from Belgium. The family’s first exchange student was from Italy, in 2021. Fielder said their visitor stayed with the family for one semester.
The Fielder’s used the Foreign Links Around the Globe (FLAG) exchange program. FLAG allows international students from over 25 counties around the world to come to the United States to live with a host family for one academic semester or a full school year. They also offer a program called “Smooth Landing,” which allows their students to learn English and gain cultural skills that will help them inside and outside the classroom.
“With Eva, they reached out to me and asked if I could host her when she first got here, for six to eight weeks,” Fielder said. FLAG also performs a home study, background check and a meeting that reviews expectations and the requirements of a host family.
Biasetto came to Minnesota from Wallonia, Belgium. She will be a senior alongside the youngest of Fielder’s daughters. Both will attend Forest Lake Area High School and graduate in June 2025.
There were multiple reasons Biasetto wanted to become an exchange student.
“First, for the experience. I want to discover plenty of countries; America is a good start,” she explained. “I want to improve my English and speak English fluently.” Biasetto added that she wants to attend university and become a lawyer or work in business. She has plans to join two extracurricular activities while she is in Minnesota. She will join the dance team in the fall and try out to be on the Alpine ski team this upcoming winter.
“I love skiing,” Biasetto said, “and Minnesota has a lot of snow.”
Biasetto will also take multiple home economics classes while at Forest Lake, such as floral design, interior design and a cooking class.
“It just gets you out of your comfort zone living with a complete stranger and just challenges yourself,” Fielder said. “You learn so much about other’s people’s cultures, too.”
For more information about FLAG, go to www.flagintl.org/index.html.
North Lakes Academy Upper School
Once again, Cheryl Heilman and her husband Mike, of Lino Lakes, will host two exchange students for the school year (See “Local family welcomes two new exchange students,” October Lowdown, 2023).
The Heilmans will host two boys this school year. Both students attend North Lakes Academy (NLA), a charter school located in Forest Lake.
Janne Mook, 16, is from Düsseldorf, Germany. He is
a junior. Gabriel Comin, who will turn 18 in October, is from Florianopolis, Brazil, and is a senior at NLA.
Why be an exchange student? “I wanted to discover, and explore new experiences, to decide what I am going to do with my life,” Comin said.
Comin plays the guitar and occasionally sings. Currently, he is on the NLA boys’ soccer team and hopes to join the school’s band in the future.
“I love music. In the future, I wish to study at Berkeley in Boston, the college of music, and I think that the exchange program will be a good addition to my curriculum,” Comin added.
Mook became an exchange student due to the positive feedback he heard about it. It also was something he always wanted to do.
“I knew a lot of friends that are older than me, that did it last year,” Mook explained. “They only said good things. I always had the idea in my mind.”
Mook has been to the United States twice, with his parents when he was younger. They took a road trip up the West Coast and visited Los Angeles.
He is also on the boys’ soccer team with Comin. In the winter, he hopes to join the basketball team.
On his decision to become an exchange student, “It’s all about the experience, getting to learn a new culture,” Mook added.
“For me, I would say it is more of a test for myself to try be more self-reliant, to gather experience and know how to overall manage myself, to learn how to live by myself,” Comin explained. “Overall, I want to experience (your) culture and everything your country has to offer.”
The Heilman’s have used the Nacel Open Door exchange student program since 2015. It offers two main programs. Students can come to study in the United States for various periods of time. They can attend school for the entirety of the school year, attend a private school for multiple years or do the shortterm academic program, which lasts anywhere from 1-5 weeks.
Comin will graduate from NLA in June 2025. Both Comin and Mook arrived in Minnesota on Aug. 31.
The Heilmans have introduced the boys to various events like the Minnesota State Fair, visiting the Mall of America and attending an outdoor church service at Golden Lake Park.
“Overall, hosting an exchange student is very rewarding and benefits everyone involved,” said Heilman. “The students get a broadened education here in the United States, and the family gets a blessing of opening up their hearts and homes to these students.”
Agustin de Toro Perry is from Chile. Currently, he is a junior alongside Mook at NLA. He is staying with Joyce and Greg Getchell from Forest Lake.
“I was at my house, and my father told me, ‘You want to get into this exchange program?’ and in
the moment I said, ‘yes’ because it is a pretty good experience,” Toro Perry explained. “It was a little random.”
He went through the AFS-USA exchange program. AFS-USA offers international exchange and education opportunities in over 45 countries and hosts exchange students from 80 countries.
“Greg and I both hosted exchange students as teenagers and studied abroad as college students,” Joyce Getchell said. “We value thinking globally, gaining new perspectives and practicing hospitality.” Toro Perry’s father was also going to be an exchange student in New Zealand, but his father did not end up flying out.
Currently, Toro Perry plays on the soccer team alongside Mook and Comin. Like Mook, Toro Perry hopes to join the basketball team this November.
“My goal for this year is to have experiences of the exchange program. I think this experience will help me throughout my life,” Toro Perry explained.
“It is rewarding and fun to develop relationships with people from other cultures,” Getchell added. “Personal connections matter.”
More information about the Nacel Open Door program can be found on its website at www. nacelopendoor.org or by calling Cheryl Heilman at 612-245-4605. Those interested in the AFS-Program can go to www.afsusa.org.
Madeline Dolby is editor of the Lowdown. She can be reached at 651-407-1226 or lowdownnews@ presspubs.com.
CONTRIBUTED
The Fielder family welcomes Eva Biasetto from Belgium.
Friendship recession
The August issue of Rotary magazine draws attention to the decline in friendships due to death, moving to a new community, job transfers, and generally speaking, the reality of getting older.
It’s easy for one’s close friends to grow apart, and replacing them seems overwhelming.
It’s obvious that being part of an organization like Rotary enhances and grows friendships like many other organizations in which you can participate.
Research has shown how important friendships can be to our mental and physical health. Some suggest you may even live longer.
For Kathy and I, friends offer help on major decisions. Sometimes they are even more helpful than family. Many times friends have helped us clarify with objectivity.
It seems like in all cultures of the world this friendship recession is growing and not improving.
The author of the Rotary article, Kate Silver, starts off the article with “You’ve got a friend.” She relates how some people have found ways to make connections.
I’m sure you’ve discovered that if you walk a dog, that’s a good way to bring up conversation with others who are walking their pets. It takes a common ground. You have to smile and talk to people.
Over the years Kathy and I have hosted over 20 foreign exhange students and adults through different programs like Rotary. Those friendships in many cases have continued and we’ve even met some of them in their home countries.
“Here to Make Friends”, a book by Hope Kelaher, suggests that everyone have an anchor institution, whether it’s a place of worship, schools, clubs, or a café.
Think about people in your social network whom you already know and like. Be sure you reach out to them with a birthday message or an invitation to dinner, and when you do that, ask them to bring a friend that you haven’t met.
Discover what you like about a new person you have met and engage them. Ask how they spend leisure time, where they vacation, what they like about certain shopping opportunities.
All this takes time and it will not necessarily be easy, but the end result is rewarding.
In the newspaper business, I have often said we have to make new friends because we lose so many through column and editorial writing.
Whether you agree or disagree, I’m always pleased to hear from you with a letter, a note, or a call.
Share your opinions, your thoughts, your ideas. We’re all different, but we bring a lot of thoughtful information to the table.
The red flag
Scams today are so prevalent and it’s so easy to be caught up with them, whatever your age.
A good warning I heard recently is if someone is trying to make you frightened or threatened, the red flag should go up. It’s very likely a scam.
Scammers are getting more and more clever and finding new ways to catch people off guard. There are many premium offers that look good and some are even told will be complimentary, but you can’t trust them. I think retailers and promotional people that are legitimate are losing out because of all the scamming. Remember local businesses can be trusted and are here to serve you. Gene Johnson is publisher emeritus of Press Publications.
OPINION
The Greatest Generation
So it is in wartime. There was a single shot, and the man rolled to his side lifeless.
He’d seen his family for the last time.
Ken shipped off to France in 1944 as an individual because the job of the unit he trained with was no longer needed. He arrived after D-Day but still endured a number of encounters with the enemy. After a stint in the 3rd Army, Ken landed in the 7th Army. As the “new guy” he got what all the new guys got; the job nobody else wanted. In Ken’s case, this was being a scout. That meant only to observe, not engage and it came with a variety of tasks like: Utke! - run across that field and see if anyone shoots at you. Utke! - pick a couple men and go find out what the Germans are up to. That latter order was usually in the very early hours of the morning. Ken went around and kicked a few soldiers who came with him and asked no questions. If you wield authority as if you have authority, the men will follow.
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The scout team had 2 simple instructions; make no noise no matter what and hold the belt of the man in front of you. It never went as planned. Someone was always separated and every time they called out for help. Knowing high powered machine guns were looking for them, the usual response would be a coarsely whispered, “Shut up!!”, though somewhat different language was used. Despite the issues with the team, Ken did not lose a single man on those scouting missions. Most of what you ate while deployed in WWII was something called a C-ration. C-rations came in a small brown cardboard box and contained mostly canned goods. Some of them were tolerable but none of them were good. They were packed with calories, but beyond that their effect on the body was often less than perfect.
Occasionally, the Army would set up a hot meal in the field. After C-rations, chancing by one of these meal stations was a treat. Ken wasn’t about to miss out on real food so he filled a plate along with another soldier who was there planning to enjoy the same meal. The two of them found a place to sit on a small hillside and were having a fun time chatting when there was a single shot and the man rolled onto his side
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lifeless. Ken knew the German sniper was taking aim at him next so he dropped his plate and ran like the wind. Human history is mostly a stream of chaos and suffering and World War II was certainly no exception. But we occasionally see willing sacrifice and genuine leadership. In 1941, the people of the United States had the choice to fight or live with hostile empires that would certainly oppress their own people and eventually set their sights on us. We chose to fight. My friend Ken, his lunch partner, scouts clinging to belts and many others suffered and sacrificed to preserve our right to vote, assemble, bear arms, speak freely, go or not go to the church of our choice and live the lives we need to live. And postwar, the US led with compassion by introducing the Marshall Plan which sought to build a free and prosperous Europe in the hopes of preventing a third world war. We are now 79 years on and it’s peaceful and prosperous to this day. The generation of these soldiers has been nicknamed the Greatest Generation; a moniker they most assuredly deserve.
Paul Lundh is a longtime resident of Centerville and a periodic columnist for The Citizen.
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About the Town
Gene Johnson
The Corner
Paul Lundh
County board sets 2 public hearings
The Washington County Board of Commissioners has set two public hearings for Nov. 19. The first public hearing will be to consider revisions to the county’s 2025 fee schedule, which establishes the amounts of fees to be charged for fee-based county services. The fee schedule is updated annually. By law, the fee schedule can only be adopted following a public hearing. The board will consider adoption of the 2025 fee schedule at its Nov. 26 board meeting. The second public hearing will be to consider the county’s 2025-2029 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). During the public hearing, the county board will hear public comments and consider any recommended changes to the draft CIP. The board will consider adoption of the plan at its final 2024 board meeting Dec. 17.
County board reappoints county assessor
Commissioners selected and reappointed County Assessor Lisa Young to a new term beginning Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2028.
Under state statute, every county in the state has a county assessor appointed by the county board of commissioners. The county board made the appointment Oct. 15. The appointment will next be forwarded to the Minnesota State commissioner of revenue for confirmation.
Young has served as the Washington county assessor since December 2022. The county assessor is selected and appointed because of knowledge and training in the field of property assessment and taxation.
County to provide grants for cyanizine well treatments Commissioners also approved a joint powers agreement with Dakota County and Scott County to participate in a pilot program to provide funding to private well owners with wells that have cyanizine detections.
The program is funded by the Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA), and Dakota County will serve as the fiscal agent under the JPA. Washington County is allocated $35,300 for well treatment grants and up to an additional $6,000 for other program-related expenses.
Cyanazine was a corn herbicide used in the 1980s and 1990s that is no longer used, but its degradation products are still being found in groundwater. Well owners determined by MDA to have cyanizine exceedances will be contacted and offered grant funding for well treatment to remove pesticides.
Washington County’s Department of Public Health and Environment will work with eligible well owners to provide grant funding for well treatment.
Bond grant agreement for Square Lake Park improvements OK’d Commissioners approved a $113,145.46 bond grant agreement with the Metropolitan Council to improve the facilities at Square Lake Park.
BUSINESS BRIEF
Quad chamber rebrands
The local chamber has undergone a rebrand. The chamber was founded as the Lino Lakes Chamber in 1999. Eventually, it evolved into the Quad Area Chamber to include the cities of Centerville, Circle Pines and Lexington.
According to chamber President/CEO Michelle Koch, “The vast majority of people who live and/or work in this area don’t refer to it as the Quad Area. The chamber struggled with identity as some people confused it with this very paper, and others regularly referred to it as the Quad Cities.”
Members of the chamber unanimously decided to change the name to the Centennial Area Chamber.
“The school district is the glue that binds the area into a community; the name aligns with not just the school, but the local police, fire, food shelf and library,” Koch said. “It reflects the chamber’s service area of the original four, along with the broader area.”
The new logo hints at a C built out of individual pieces that represent the different cities. The colors represent the obvious red for the school, but also the paths, green space and lakes that residents love about the area.
Koch said the chamber board is excited about this change and the feedback has been very positive.
Shannon Granholm
Current facilities at Square Lake Park require repairs and upgrades to meet the current and future community expectations, including upgrades related to the Americans with Disabilities Act.
The 2023 Legislature approved funding for the Met Council to allocate state bonds toward the regional park system. Funds from the approved bond grant agreement will be used toward the design and construction of the following improvements at Square Lake Park:
• Rehabilitation of existing restroom facility.
• Parking improvements.
• Implementation of trails and corresponding wayfinding to provide additional recreational opportunities for park visitors.
• Beach and fishing pier improvements.
• Boat launch and picnic area improvements. Minnesota women’s clubs throughout the ages
The Washington County Historical Society has announced a program about women’s clubs in Minnesota, specifically in rural areas, throughout the decades. Historian Kate Thomas will present at 7 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 6, at the Washington County Heritage Center, located at 1862 Greeley Street South, Stillwater.
The program will allow attendees to immerse themselves in the ideas, concerns and activities of rural women’s clubs in Minnesota from the 1920s through the 1990s. Thomas will analyze the crucial importance of gender history to civic engagement in rural areas. Attendees will leave the program with a greater understanding of how rural women’s clubs provided opportunities for women working in the home and on the farm to gain leadership skills and assert their voices publicly at a time when they were often passed over for higher-level government positions or political office.
Speaker Kate Thomas, Ph.D., is a historian who taught all levels of U.S. history as well as the history of Women and War and Mixed-Heritage History at the University of Wisconsin – Stout for 15 years. In addition to teaching and research, she also chaired the campus Inclusive Excellence and Women and Gender Studies committees. In 2011 she was chosen by Norton Publishers to create five Google Earth history tours using primary documents to guide students through hundreds of years of inclusive history across North America. She currently resides in Afton, where she works on history projects as an independent scholar.
The program is free to the public and reservations are not required. Event attendees may attend either in person at the Washington County Heritage Center or virtually on YouTube. The YouTube link may be accessed at wchsmn.org/event/ruralclubs. For questions, contact Washington County Heritage Center Site Manager Emily Krawczewski at emily. krawczewski@wchsmn.org or 651-439-2298.
COMMUNITY BRIEF
Mayor for a Day contest accepts essays
The League of Minnesota Cities’ annual essay contest, Mayor for a Day, is back. Students in fourth, fifth and sixth grade can enter for a
chance to win a cash prize and recognition in the Minnesota Cities magazine. Essays are due Friday, Dec. 13. For more information, go to www. lmc.org/about/mayorfor-a-day-essay-contest.
OBITUARY
Paula S. Prescott
Passed away on October 13, 2024 at the age of 76.
Paula was a beloved daughter, sister, wife, mother, and grandmother, as well as a dedicated educator and a gifted artist and musician. She lived a life rich with love and togetherness and she will be deeply missed by her family and friends.
Paula grew up the second oldest of four siblings in the rural town of Stacyville, IA. She earned her bachelor’s degree in art education from the University of Northern Iowa. In 1971, she married David Prescott of Adams, Minnesota and they settled in Cedar Rapids, IA and later in Albert Lea, MN, where she taught art at the elementary and secondary levels.
Paula & Dave retired in Walker, MN.
She is survived by her husband, who has been a devoted companion in their journey through 53 years together and caretaker in the most difficult times; her children Ben (Trisha) & Megan (Steve); 4 grandchildren and siblings Sheri Thome, Marcia Seip, and Dennis May. She is preceded in death by her parents Albert and Angela May.
There will be a Gathering from 1:00 - 4:00pm on Saturday, November 9th at Mueller Memorial, 4738 Bald Eagle Ave, White Bear Lake, Memorial Service at 2:00pm with a Reception to follow. Arrangements MuellerMemorial.com 651-429-2922
CALENDAR BRIEF
Child digital safety educational event set From 7-8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 12, at Liberty Classical Academy’s White Bear Lake campus, residents will be able to attend a presentation led by Chris McKenna, founder of Protect Young Eyes, an organization dedicated to creating safer digital spaces for children and their families.
Parents will learn how to build layers of protection, understand the three functional areas of the brain, how to confidently build digital trust and more. Liberty Classical Academy is located at 3878 Highland Ave., White Bear Lake. The presentation will take place in the gymnasium.
CHURCH DIRECTORY
CHURCH DIRECTORY
Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center
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
CONDENSED VOTERS’ GUIDE 2024
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 33A
Patti Anderson
Age: 58
City of residence: Dellwood
(R)
Occupation: I currently serve as the State Representative for District 33A. The district is in Washington County and stretches from Willernie on the south to Forest Lake on the north.
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: I am a businessperson who has served in a variety of elected and appointed roles throughout my career including as a commissioner under Governor Pawlenty and as the Minnesota State Auditor.
Jake Ross (DFL)
Age: 22
City of residence: Forest Lake
Occupation: Accountant
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
Member of Minnesota Department of Education’s School Safety Technical Assistance Council
• Board Member and Treasurer of Jeremiah’s Hope for Kindness (a small nonprofit organization that does bullying prevention work) Economics Tutor and Peer Advisor at Gustavus Adolphus College
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DISTRICT 36A
Janelle Calhoun (DFL)
Age: 48 City of residence: Lino Lakes
Occupation: Former nonprofit director
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• Executive Director at Rein in Sarcoma
• Local community volunteer Active in church (Living Waters)
Elliott Engen (R)
Age: 25
City of residence: Lino Lakes
Occupation: State Representative, formerly Prosecution Assistant and NGO coordinator.
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• State legislator
• Special Olympics Minnesota
• School safety policy leader
WASHINGTON COUNTY COMMISSIONER DISTRICT 1
Fran Miron
Age: 70 City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: Dairy & Crop Farmer
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: Washington County Commissioner –District 1: 12 years (Current Vice Chair)
• Washington-Ramsey County Recycling & Energy Board: Current Chair
• Mayor & Councilman, city of Hugo: 20 years
Nancy Golden
Age: 54
City of residence: Centerville
Occupation: Midwest manager in the specialty pharmaceutical industry
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: Not provided
D. Love
Age: Not provided
City of residence: Centerville
Occupation: Claims team manager – State Farm Insurance/ Centerville Mayor
List 3 most recent civic involvement
roles: I taught Sunday School at Eagle Brook Church. My wife and I announced the parade for several years. I coached youth basketball and football. I coached high school football for 5 years. I was a Planning and Zoning Commissioner, I have been on the City Council for 16 years, serving as mayor for five years. I served on the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust for 12 years and the Executive Board for five years where I was honored to serve as president.
CENTERVILLE CITY COUNCIL: ELECT 2
Russ Koski
Age: 60
City of residence: Centerville
Occupation: Account manager
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: I have served on the Centerville City Council for 7 1/2 years, deputy mayor for three years, P&Z Commission liaison and alternate representative to the North Metro Telecommunications Commission. I have attended the LMC conference and workshops. I attend Anoka County Government events, learning of county plans and how they affect Centerville while building relationships with local government decision makers. I have volunteered for the city of Centerville Fete des Lacs festival parade for seventeen years. It has been my honor to serve on the Centennial Fire District Steering Committee for the past six years, three times as chairperson.
David Kubat
Age: 40
City of residence: Centerville Occupation: Attorney/Owner, Zimmer Law Group Saint Paul List 3 Most Recent Civic Involvement Roles:
Centerville Planning and Zoning Commission (Chair) – 2021-2023
• Military Immigration Liaison, American Immigration Lawyers Association MN-DAK Chapter 2015-present Intelligence Officer, Minnesota Army National Guard 2008 –2020
Garland Port
Age: 27
City of residence: Centerville
Occupation: Software engineer
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: Not Provided
Anita Rios
Age: 62
City of residence: Centerville
Occupation: Talent management consultant, part-time; retired from a 35-year career in public higher education
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: Served on several national/regional boards and received numerous service and leadership awards.
Tom Weidt
Age: 57
City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: Sales management List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
I have been mayor of Hugo since 2012 Hugo Council 2008-2012
• Various city commissions 2000-2008
Mike Miron
Age: 43
City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: Teacher
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• Hugo City Council - Council Member AtLarge, 2015-Present Washington/Ramsey County Farm Bureau - President, 2010-Present Church of St. Genevieve - Pastoral Council Chair, 2012-2015
HUGO CITY COUNCIL: WARD 2
Philip Klein
Age: 64
City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: Financial representative
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
I have served on the Economic Development Committee and the City Council for 16 years. I have held many leadership positions in business organizations, nonprofit organizations and my church.
• Land Use Advisory Committee – Vice Chair (LUAC-Met Council)
• Metro Area Supply Commission- (MAWSAC-Met Council) White Bear Lake Legislative Work Group-Committee Member
Ben Krull
Age: 48
City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: Stay at home dad/part-time nuclear contractor
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• Delegate to CD8 convention
Hugo Precinct 3 chair
Salvation Army Harbor Light Advisory Board member
CENTENNIAL SCHOOL BOARD: ELECT 3
Sue Linser
Age: 51
City of Residence: Lino Lakes
Occupation: North America Sales Operations Analyst, AVIRE
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• 2021-present - School Board Director, currently serving as Vice Chair 2022-present - Centennial Area Education Foundation Board Member
• 2014-2018 - Centennial Girls Hockey Blue Line Club
Treasurer
Craig Johnson
Age: 61 years
City of residence: Lino Lakes
Occupation: Independent personal insurance agent
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
I have filled various roles in leadership for organizations including the following:
• Current Centennial School Board Clerk.
• Donating my time to an educational nonprofit, Best Prep, for the past eight years. Volunteered with the Lino Lakes Beyond the Yellow Ribbon and was a past president.
Heidi Hansen
Age: 53
City of residence: Blaine
Occupation: Preschool teacher
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• Volunteer teacher at St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church for the past 15 years
• Served nine years on the Centennial Lakes Little League Board of Directors and four years as a league representative
• Youth Softball Coach
Laura Gannon
Age: 44
City of residence: Circle Pines
Occupation: Principal Software Systems
Engineer
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• Girl Scout Troop Cookie Manager (2023 - present)
Centennial Theatre Boosters
Volunteer (2023 - present)
• Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair Middle School Judge (2022)
CENTERVILLE CITY COUNCIL: SPECIAL ELECTION
HUGO MAYOR
CENTERVILLE MAYOR
HUGO CITY COUNCIL: MEMBER AT LARGE
CONDENSED VOTERS’ GUIDE 2024
Scott Arcand
Age: 60
City of residence: White Bear Township
Occupation: Teaching and learning specialist
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: Ramsey County League of Local Governments - Past President
• White Bear Lake Area Schools - School Board, Clerk
White Bear Lake Area SchoolsSystems Accountability Committee Member
Brian Cern
Age: 50
City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: Broker - employee benefits
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• President & Co-Founder: North Star Elementary PTA
Vice-President Hugo/Oneka PTA Teaching Artist with Children’s Performing Arts and Blue Water Theatre
WHITE BEAR LAKE AREA SCHOOLS BOARD: ELECT 3
Tim Klecker
Age: 40
City of residence: White Bear Lake
Occupation: Certified financial goals coach
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: I have helped out at a local Marketfest booth for the last number of years and helped to increase awareness around the state of our school system. For the last couple of years, I have regularly attended the local school board meetings and have provided a fair analysis of where we are headed. My children are on the archery team at WBL, and we participate in fundraising and volunteer work at local business establishments.
Dan Skaar
Age: 64
City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: Semi-retired, consultant
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles: Much of my volunteer time has been pro-bono work with a nonprofit that is dedicated to helping parents, children and K-12 schools address the adverse impacts of social media on child development. I have done pro-bono work helping small businesses including my daughter’s business. I am a member of the Knights of Columbus and volunteer through the organization.
Angela Thompson
Age: 50
City of residence: Hugo
Occupation: ICWA Guardian ad Litem (4th
District)
List 3 most recent civic involvement
roles:• Current school board member who is a liaison to Willow Elementary & the Area Learning Center. Committee member on the AIPAC (American Indian Parent Advisory Committee), Policy Committee, and the Systems Accountability Committee.
• NASW Social Work Advocacy Week - Student Advocate
• Hugo/Oneka Lake Elementary PTA Vice President & President
R. Scott Smith
Age: 60
City of residence: White Bear
Township
Occupation: Marketing manager
List 3 most recent civic involvement roles:
• Manitou Days Parade Marshall
• Weekly volunteer at Union Gospel Mission
Director of Volunteers at Eagle Brook Church
PUBLIC NOTICES
CITY OF HUGO, MINNESOTA
PUBLIC NOTICE OF ELECTION
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a General Election will be held in the City of Hugo, Minnesota, on Tuesday, November 5, 2024, at the polling locations listed below for the purpose of voting for candidates of the offices specified below. The polls for said election will be open at 7:00 AM and will remain open until closing at 8:00 PM.
CITY OFFICES: • Mayor • City Council, At Large • City Council, Ward 2
The polling places are as follows: Precinct Name Voting Location
Hugo W1-P1 Hugo Fire Station, 5323 140th St N, Hugo, MN 55038
Hugo W1-P2 Hugo City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Ave N, Hugo, MN 55038
Hugo W2-P3 Lions Park Building, 5224 Upper 146th St N, Hugo, MN 55038
Hugo W2-P4 New Life Church, Hugo, 6000 148th St, Hugo, MN 55038
Hugo W3-P5 Hugo Public Works Building, 8220 140th St N, Hugo, MN 55038
Hugo W3-P6 Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th St N, Hugo, MN 55038
Published two times in The Citizen on October 17 and 31, 2024.
CITY OF HUGO
BOARD OF ZONING PUBLIC HEARING
The Hugo Board of Zoning Appeals and Adjustments will hold a public hearing on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at Hugo City Hall at 6:30 p.m. to consider a variance request from Jim and Laurie Stodola, 12757 Homestead Drive North, Hugo, MN 55110. The request is to allow for a deck to be placed 56 feet from the ordinary high-water level of Sunset Lake, where a structure setback of 100 feet is required by ordinance. The request for the variance is to allow the deck to be constructed in-line with existing portions of the house. The subject property is generally located east of Homestead Drive North and north of 125th Street North, and is legally described as Lot 10, Block 1, Royalhaven Estates, Washington County, Minnesota. Full legal description is available at City Hall.
CITY OF HUGO
SUMMARY ORDINANCE 2024-536
NOTICE: THIS PUBLISHED MATERIAL IS ONLY A SUMMARY OF AN ORDINANCE OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES FOR THE CITY OF HUGO. THE FULL TEXT OF THE ORDINANCE IS AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC INSPECTION AT THE HUGO CITY HALL DURING REGULAR BUSINESS HOURS.
SUMMARY OF AN INTERIM ORDINANCE EXTENDING A TEMPORARY MORATORIUM ON NEW DEVELOPMENT OF SOLAR FARM SOLAR ENERGY SYSTEMS AND DIRECTING A STUDY TO BE CONDUCTED:
The City Council has passed an interim ordinance for a moratorium on solar farms that shall remain in effect until six (6) months from November 20, 2024. The City Council directs City staff to study the Solar Farm section of the ordinance to determine whether to revise or add any regulations, restrictions, or prohibitions, including siting and location of use, performance standards, and screening of Solar Farms. Upon completion of the study, the City Council, together with such commission as the City Council deems appropriate, or as may be required by law, will consider the advisability of adopting new ordinances, amending its current ordinances, or probations.
Please note this title and summary of this Ordinance clearly informs the public of the intent and affect of the Ordinance and conforms to Minn. Stat. §412.191. This Ordinance shall be effective the date that it is published.
The amended ordinance is available at City Hall for review.
Dallas, TX 75381-4609
Plaintiff, v. Troy A. Gunderman 1539 Meadowview Ct. Hugo, MN 55038
Defendant.
THE STATE OF WISCONSIN,
To each person named above as a defendant: You are hereby notified that the Plaintiff named above has filed a lawsuit or other legal action against you. The complaint, which is also served upon you, states the nature and basis of the legal action.
Tom Weidt, Mayor Attest: Michele Lindau, City Clerk
HIRING
HIRING
Passed and adopted by the City Council of the City of Hugo this 21st day of October, 2024.
Within 40 days after October 31, 2024 you must respond with a written answer, as that term is used in chapter 802 of the Wisconsin Statutes, to the complaint. The court may reject or disregard an answer that does not follow the requirements of the statutes. The answer must be sent or delivered to the court, whose address is Burnett County Courthouse 7410 Co. Rd. K #115, Siren, WI 54872, and to Codilis, Moody & Circelli, P.C., plaintiff’s attorneys, whose address is 15W030 North Frontage Road, Suite 200, Burr Ridge, IL 60527. You may have an attorney help or represent you. If you do not provide a proper answer within 40 days, the court may grant judgment against you for the award of money or other legal action requested in the complaint, and you may lose your right to object to anything that is or may be incorrect in the complaint. A judgment may be enforced as provided by law. A judgment awarding money may become a lien against any real estate you own now or in the future, and may also be enforced by garnishment or seizure of property.
Dated: October 21, 2024.
Published one time in The Citizen on October 31, 2024.
Full-time or Part-time Heavy Truck Mechanic at MID-COUNTY TRUCK CENTER
Mid-County Truck Center a full service, well established truck repair center on Hwy 212 in Cologne, MN is seeking beginner or experienced repair technicians. Full-time and part-time hours with wage based on experience.
STATE OF WISCONSIN, BURNETT COUNTY CIRCUIT COURT
SUMMONS
CASE NO. 2024CV000105
JUDGE MELISSIA R. MOGEN
with wage based on experience.
FORECLOSURE OF MORTGAGE: 30404
Anyone wishing to comment on the 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 October 31, 2024.
710 Lake St W, Cologne, MN 55322
Codilis, Moody & Circelli, P.C. 15W030 N Frontage Road, Suite 200 Burr Ridge, IL 60527 (414) 775-7700 pleadings@il.cslegal.com 50-24-00870
BASEMENT WATERPROOFING AND FOUNDATION REPAIR EXPERTS
Codilis, Moody & Circelli, P.C. Attorneys for Plaintiff Electronically signed by Shawn R. Hillmann WI State Bar No. 1037005 Emily Thoms WI State Bar No. 1075844
NOTE: This law firm is a debt collector.
US Bank Trust National Association, Not In Its Individual Capacity But Solely As Owner Trustee For VRMTG Asset Trust PO Box 814609
For more information visit midcountycoop.com/mechanic-job to apply contact Bill at (952) 466-3721 or billr@midcountycoop.com 710 Lake St W, Cologne, MN 55322
For more information visit midcountycoop.com/mechanic-job to apply contact Bill at (952) 466-3721 or billr@midcountycoop.com
Published three times in The Citizen on October 31, November 14 and 28, 2024.
CONTACT US FOR A FREE INSPECTION 844-787-5520 • SAFEBASEMENTS.COM
US FOR A FREE INSPECTION 844-787-5520 • SAFEBASEMENTS.COM BASEMENT WATERPROOFING AND FOUNDATION REPAIR EXPERTS
andArts Culture
EMERGING ARTIST: ARIANNA VANN-COOK
BY LOGAN GION
CONTRIBUTING WRITER
People are often sorted into two categories: followers and leaders. Recent White Bear Lake graduate Arianna VannCook, however, belongs in a third category—trailblazer.
School Board Student Liaison, Black Student Union coleader, Women Empowerment Seminar founder—VannCook has long been bursting with ideas. Only in the last few years, though, has she realized the power her ideas had.
“I had notebooks and books lined up in every corner of my room, and I didn’t realize … until a teacher drew it out of me, like, ‘Honey this is poetry,” Vann-Cook recalls. Because she had so much content, her teacher
Excerpt from “summer,”
plenty of color, a dozen creation/ we shall huddle together, a standing ovation/ to how we shine in front of the sun/ and teach it to glow.
encouraged her to submit to White Bear Center for the Arts’ WriteNow! Contest. She won four awards her freshman year.
Vann-Cook describes poetry
HISTORICAL SOCIETY
BY LOGAN GION
WRITER
CONTRIBUTING
On Nov. 7, 1862, between two of The Civil War’s most brutal battles, Minnesota governor Alexander Ramsey demanded that the Dakota “be exterminated or driven forever beyond the borders of the State.” This was decreed in retribution for the deaths caused by Little Crow’s Rebellion earlier that year. The vast majority of the Dakota population had opposed the war, refused to fight and condemned the fighting party’s leader, Little Crow, for his actions. Nevertheless, that winter, 1,658 non-combatant Dakota were forcibly marched for 150 miles from the land on which they’d lived for hundreds of years—currently termed “unceded lands”— to an internment camp in Fort Snelling en route to a reservation near Omaha, Nebraska. Only 1,000 reached their destination. This event is now known as Minnesota’s Trail of Tears.
A Google search of “MN Trail of Tears” yields a handful of local and state articles before switching to “Trail
RETRACES
and writing as “my deepest emotions and thoughts. It’ll be something small, and then it’ll kind of snowball into something bigger. … It’s really just pouring everything out.” Vann-Cook’s process led her to write the piece “Monochromatic”—a poem about Vann-Cook’s experience
growing up mixed race. For this, she received an Award of Merit from WBCA, who also featured the work in their first issue of “Repose,” an art collective magazine.
Vann-Cook’s relationship with WBCA proved critical when the center looked to establish a high-school internship program. There, she used the shape and power of her words to appeal to the State House of Representatives: “I have witnessed a great deal of passion with no outlet, having nowhere to fulfill their dreams … Talent is something that can often be overlooked if there is nowhere to apply it.” Earlier this year, VannCook completed WBCA’s inaugural students-in-resident internship.
She also handed the reins of the Women Empowerment
MINNESOTA’S TRAIL OF TEARS
of Tears” with a note underneath that reads “Missing: MN.” While writing this very article, autocorrect “helpfully” changed “unceded lands” to “unneeded lands.” Rob Thomas, Development Director for the History Theater and current Board President for the White Bear Lake Area Historical Society, believes two factors are behind the low awareness of this atrocity. The first is that Minnesota only allowed Dakota to reenter under strict terms beginning in 1889. Thomas’ own family only returned in the late 1940s. The second reason hits upon a universal human difficulty.
“We don't mind talking about the concentration camps in Germany because it happened in Germany; somebody else did it. We get a little more hesitant to share real history when we're talking about ourselves,” Thomas states. To help remedy this, Thomas will be giving a historical presentation of these events through the eyes of his great-great-greatgrandparents, Pazaheyayewin (She radiates in her path like the sun) and Mazaadidi (Walks on iron).
When Thomas talks about this
Csubject, he sometimes gets a little pushback. “The most common thing I hear is, ‘You know, the Indians killed white people too,’” he says. “Yes. But we're talking about systemic issues of our educators not having either the education themselves or the power to tell, you know, true stories. These are big, big problems that everyone should be upset about.”
To be clear, though, Thomas’ aim is not to make anyone feel ashamed or guilty about Minnesota history. “You don't have any control over it. … I don't think anyone should have to feel bad about that specifically. But we can feel bad about not doing enough to acknowledge people want to see themselves represented in history,” he says. “There were, and are, burial mounds [in White Bear Lake], which means this was a significant place to Dakota people at some point. So Dakota history has to be a part of White Bear history too."
One Family’s Journey on MN’s Trail of Tears takes place from 6-7 p.m. Nov. 18 at the White Bear Lake Library. No advance registration is necessary.
WHITE BEAR DYES FUR ‘BLONDE’ FOR FALL MUSICAL
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
hoir Teacher and Musical Theater Director Wendy Suoja has directed 27 shows for White Bear Lake Area High School Theater. However, this fall’s musical, “Legally Blonde,” has a special distinction: It will be the last show performed in the high school’s theater. The Performing Arts Center, a new 850-seat auditorium complete with a fly system and changeable screens, will open in early December.
“It’s super nostalgic for me personally,” says Suoja, “'cause I've been here since 1999. Then for the kids, their world has been jostled so much over the past five years … For them [the space is] like their favorite pair of shoes.” Suoja also believes that this show will be invigorating for all who see it. Between COVID and construction on the 9-12 high school, “Legally Blonde” will be the first show since 2019 that will
feel normal to produce.
Then again, Suoja promises that “Legally Blonde” will be tweaked “the White Bear way.” Elle Woods, the musical’s lead part, will be played by Yahaira Nok-Chidana, who is Afro-Latina. Nok-Chidana’s hair will be specially interwoven and braided to achieve the signature blonde color and look. Suoja assures that those who see the show, though, will recognize Nok-Chidana as Elle Woods almost immediately. “We are not changing the vibe of the character,” Suoja explains. “You see her for the character in about 30 seconds in her performance. It's so good.” As for the reason behind the casting, Suoja says. “You know, Elle Woods’ story is anybody’s story.”
Elle Woods’ story will be everybody’s story when White Bear Lake High School’s production of “Legally Blonde” opens at 7 p.m. Nov. 15.
For tickets and a full list of show dates, visit sites.google. com/isd624.org/musical-theatre/tickets-legally-blonde.
Seminar, a student-interest club that Vann-Cook founded, to her successor. “I do a lot of spoken word at the seminars and try to relate to the crowd … you know, self love and the battle with confidence. I’m glad that I took the initiative to start it. Now it’s like an actual big club. You can letter in it now, which is super cool. It’s in the yearbook.”
Even with these accomplishments to her name, Vann-Cook is still amazed that her ideas have turned into concrete accomplishments. “I created [the seminar] out of thin air, and it’s real now. It’s the same thing for writing. You create something; it can be real.”
To read “Monochromatic,” visit whitebeararts.org/ writenow/writenow-2022award-ceremony
NOVEMBER EVENTS
Explore upcoming Avenue of the Arts events with CPA, LPT and WBCA
ENTURY COLLEGE PLAYHOUSE’S ‘FUDDY MEERS’
Location: Hanifl Black Box Theatre, 4914 Long Ave.
Date: 7:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1; Saturday, Nov. 2; Thursday, Nov. 7; Friday, Nov. 8; Saturday, Nov. 9; 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 3; Sunday, Nov. 10
Details: Lakeshore Players is proud to host the Century College Playhouse for their fall play, Fuddy Meers—a poignant, brutal comedy that traces one woman’s attempt to regain her memory while surrounded by bizarre characters.
ARTRIO CONCERT
Location: White Bear Center for the Arts
Date: Wednesday, November 6, 4:306:30 PM
Details: Listen to the musical stylings of local bassoon trio Atrio during this free concert at WBCA.
‘LEGALLY BLONDE: THE MUSICAL’
Location: White Bear Lake Area High School Theatre, 5405 Division Ave.
Date: 7 p.m. Friday, Nov. 15; Saturday, Nov. 16; Thursday, Nov. 21; Friday, Nov. 22; Saturday, Nov. 23; 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 16 (This showtime is free for senior citizens)
Details: Based on the hit film, “Legally Blonde: The Musical” follows Elle Woods, a sorority girl who enrolls at Harvard Law School to win back her ex-boyfriend, Warner. She discovers her potential and finds love in the most unexpected way.
FRESH HOLIDAY WREATHS
Location: White Bear Center for the Arts
Date: Saturday, November 16, 10:00
AM-1:00 PM
Details: Create and decorate your own holiday wreath in this class with artist Cara Corey.
CITY BRIEF
Hugo expands controlled shooting areas
The
May 2010, and identifies areas in the city where there are restrictions on shooting. City staff amended the map to expand the controlled shooting area to include properties that have since been developed with neighborhood homes and parks.
PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF
Fire
crews respond to house fire
HUGO — The Hugo Fire Department, along with neighboring agencies, was dispatched to the area near 126th Street and Falcon Avenue at approximately 6:13 a.m.
Sunday, Oct. 20, for smoke in the area.
While in route, the call was upgraded to a structure fire. Upon arrival, fire crews found that a house in the 5100 block of 126th Street N. was on fire. The cause of the fire is
under investigation at this time.
The Hugo Fire Department received mutual aid from Forest Lake, White Bear Lake, Lino Lakes, Centennial and Mahtomedi.
Meet LouLou, a gentle, laid-back, beautiful young girl with the sweetest soul, who craves the loving attention of her people. LouLou is a 2-year-old Australian cattle dog/ blue heeler/Australian shepherd mix. She weighs about 47 pounds. LouLou is housetrained, crate-trained and leash-trained and she has a high energy level. She would do well in a forever home with an active family. LouLou is social with other dogs and friendly to everyone she meets. Being a herding dog, she may not do well in a home with cats or small animals. LouLou is intelligent, and she knows her basic commands. She would benefit from attending a formal training program. During her downtime, LouLou likes to snuggle and is a wonderful lap dog. LouLou arrived at Ruff Start Rescue from Texas as part of the Lone Star to North Star Program. LouLou is anxiously awaiting a loving home and family that will help her be her best. If you are interested in learning more about LouLou or adopting her, fill out an application at www. ruffstartrescue.org.
The city of Hugo has made changes to its shooting area map. The map on the left shows what has been approved by the council.
JIM BOSSE | CONTRIBUTED
BRENDA BRUGGEMAN | CONTRIBUTED
A before and after view of a home on 126th Street N. after a fire broke out on Oct. 20. See more public safety briefs on page 17.
the barrier, she said. A traffic study is needed immediately, and the partnership between the city and county must be entirely transparent, she said.
“You simply can’t undo or stop the what-if’s,” Johnson said.
Cassie Williams, director of Creative Kids Academy on Center Street said she talked to county engineers and learned there was a backlog of speed study projects out more than one year, and wondered about how the city could expedite the process. She also called for a school zone to be established to create a safety bubble around her day care. Williams said an online petition was started to use the weight of the community to speed up the safety changes. “I feel immediate action needs to happen due to the speed and flow of traffic,” she said, before asking what
the city could do to get things moving. Wasting no time, the city added a new agenda item to address these safety items. Mayor D. Love noted that during his walks in that area, vehicles traveling at 50 mph seemed a little fast to him.
City Engineer/Administrator Mark Statz noted that city staff is aware that 20th Avenue is now becoming a more urban setting, and that a speed limit of 50 mph or greater may no longer be appropriate.
Although a barrier wouldn’t stop every vehicle from flying over it, council directed staff to install a concrete jersey barrier, which would cost from $10,00- to $15,000. It was a freak accident, but the barrier is a must, Love said.
City Attorney Kurt Glaser said that the day care would be eligible for school
zone designation and signage as long as their teaching falls into the school definition, according to state statute.
The no-passing zone shouldn’t be a problem, Council Member Terry Sweeney said. Statz said a no-passing zone is the lowest hanging fruit, and there was no reason not to have one.
“These don’t tend to have unintended consequences,” he said.
It’s not quite so simple for a speed study, Statz said. General engineering principles say that lowering the speed limit does not slow people down. People don’t drive the speed limit unless there is heavy enforcement, he said.
Also, on Love’s to-do list was to advocate with Anoka County to see what they’re willing to do and work with them to fix the intersection as a one-year plan and not a two-year plan.
As for transparency, “we’re not hiding, we’re here,” he said.
Taylor, the lone dissenting voter said, “I’ll vote against the motion, but I’m not against the notion.”
Although she supports the action, she is against the cost. “There are too many pieces of the puzzle that aren’t in place yet. And that is full transparency,” she said.
Too fend off every business in town potentially wanting a barrier on their property, Love reminded the public that installing the guard rails are the result of a specific accident where kids were in danger.
Loretta Harding is a contributing writer with Press Publications. She can be reached by emailing news@presspubs. com or calling 651-407-1200.
GREENSTEP : Program will provide recognition for water conservation, sustainability
provided the outline for the Minnesota GreenStep Cities program, which began in June 2010.
Currently, approximately 17% of Minnesota cities participate in the program. Neighboring GreenStep Cities include Forest Lake, Stillwater, Scandia, White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights.
“Its main purpose is to provide recognition and incentives for cities that are making progress toward sustainability,” said Community Development Intern Phoebe Brown. “The city has already made substantial progress towards sustainability.”
Brown added that if the city were to go through with documenting its existing practices, it would likely achieve steps one and two and make some progress toward achieving step three.
“There are (several) things we could get started on in order to keep the ball rolling,” Brown said.
Bear explained that one of the reasons city staff was recommending joining the program now is because of Brown’s background. “She has some capabilities to help us through this program at this time, and we have her here,” he said. “This is a program that
• The Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network will celebrate 15 years this March.
• Hugo resident John Waller, who serves on the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) Board of Managers, is still hopeful the Legislature will pass a bill that would require that at least 90% of the funds collected in a county remain in the county to be used on local projects.
He said he also hopes that the Rice Creek Watershed District and cities can work together to come up with a program to deal with beavers, which he says have been a problem in the north metro area lately. He explained that the watershed district doesn’t
we can do at our own pace. There is no timeline.”
Brown has a degree in environmental studies and is particularly interested in water resource management, which is what drew her to the internship with the city of Hugo.
“The city is a local leader in stormwater reuse, so it’s exciting that GreenStep will provide recognition for water conservation and other sustainability efforts, and provide additional resources for future action,” she said.
Bear said the program would offer a way for the city to document, organize and showcase the city’s efforts.
“We have completed a whole host of activities and actions here in the city of Hugo that should qualify as very good sustainability practices, but they aren’t really organized in any format and in a program, and this could be a way for us to share what we have done.”
Council Member Mike Miron said, “It
necessarily have the authority to step in, but that the city does.
• Muntasir Eisa, owner of Hugo Tobacco LLC, has applied for a tobacco license to open a smoke shop at 14815 Forest Blvd. N. to be known as Hugo Tobacco. The building is adjacent to Speedway. Eisa was also recently issued a tobacco license for the Speedway store. The license was approved.
• Frank and Jody Puleo and Busy B Enterprises LLC have requested approval of a property line adjustment between two properties. Parcel A is occupied by a plant nursery/garden center and is 10.22 acres, and Parcel B is farmed vacant property and
sounds like a great program to me.”
Council Member Phil Klein added, “We have been doing a lot. It looks like we have checked a lot of the boxes already; it is just a matter of filling out the forms. This could be recognition that we deserve, and if it leads to hopefully more cooperation with our legislators giving us more monies to do the things we need to do for our community, that’s a good thing.”
Mayor Tom Weidt also voiced his support for participating in the program. “I think it is a great idea … It would be good recognition for our city.” For more information about the GreenStep Cities program, visit https:// greenstep.pca.state.mn.us.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or citizennews@presspubs.com..
is 65.03 acres. The applicants are proposing to adjust the property lines so that Parcel A is 13.46 acres and Parcel B is 61.79 acres. The property line adjustment was approved.
• The moratorium on solar farms has been extended another six months to grant the ordinance review committee more time to provide a recommendation. The moratorium was set to expire Nov. 20.
The next City Council meeting will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 4.
Nearly 150 cities in Minnesota participate in the GreenStep Cities program.
Neighboring GreenStep Cities include Forest Lake, Stillwater, Scandia, White Bear Lake and Vadnais Heights.
Shannon Granholm
HUGO BITS & PIECES
FINANCIAL PLANNING
Financial tips for young professionals
Young adults confront something of a juggling act once they begin their professional lives. For many, that challenge begins with landing and starting a first job, arranging a payment plan for student loans, finding a place to live, and determining savings and personal finance goals. Although entering the workforce and taking a big step toward financial independence can be exciting, it also comes with financial responsibility. Setting a strong financial foundation as early as possible helps establish long-term financial security. These tips can help young professionals manage their money more effectively.
· Take a money management course. Young professionals may be tired of heading to class or making the grade at this point in life, but educating oneself about some of the basic rules of personal finance can help bridge knowledge gaps in this arena. Many young adults have never been taught the basics of applying for credit and staying out of debt. If you’ve been riding your parents’ financial coattails throughout school, now is the time to learn more, whether it’s through an online course or reading up on the subject.
· Set SMART goals. The acronym SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant,
and Time-bound, and can serve as a roadmap to achieving various goals, including those related to money. Develop a clear plan for your money, which can make it easier to budget and achieve savings-related goals.
· Minimize debt. The Education Data Initiative says university graduates owe an average of $28,244 on student loans after they leave school, with a monthly payment between $200 and $299. Some graduates have even more debt and higher payments. Managing debt is vital to anyone’s finances. Create a debt repayment plan at the earliest opportunity. With
a “snowball” strategy, borrowers pay off their smallest debts first. Once a debt is paid off, the payment amount for that debt is then applied to the next smallest debt, gaining momentum with each payment. The “avalanche” approach involves paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first.
· Aim to pay with cash more often. Unless you can afford to pay off the balance in full every month, using credit cards a lot can contribute to debt accumulation. LendingTree says that, as of September 2024, the average APR on all new card offers was 24.92%. Buying items with cash
or debit will reduce the likelihood of spending what you don’t have, offers Investopedia.
· Set up an emergency fund. It might be challenging to set aside a lot of money right now when you have an entry-level position and some debt. But setting aside as little as $1,000 for unexpected life events separate from your own personal savings can shield you from issues that arise from unexpected expenses.
· Participate in employer benefit plans. Look for the various ways that your employer can help you save money. This may include participating in retirement plans (including those with employer contribution matches), health spending accounts, gym memberships, and additional opportunities.
· Start saving and investing now. According to SmartAsset, if you start investing $150 a paycheck at age 25 and your investments have an average annualized return of 8%, after 40 years you’ll have about $1.1 million in your account. Investing the same at age 35 means cutting nearly half of that total simply by procrastinating. There are many ways young professionals can develop strong financial skills. Working with a certified financial planner also can help young professionals grow wealth over the course of their lives.
MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES
Zebra mussels confirmed in Clear Lake in Washington County
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has confirmed the presence of zebra mussels in Clear Lake, near Forest Lake in Washington County. The Rice Creek Watershed District staff contacted the DNR after two residents on Clear Lake reported a zebra mussel on their docks. More zebra mussels were found by the DNR during shoreline searches in the same area as the residents’ docks.
There have been new zebra mussel confirmations in Minnesota lakes in recent years that were reported by property owners and lake
service providers removing docks, boats and boat lifts at the end of the season. The DNR asks people to carefully check boats and trailers, docks and lifts and all other water-related equipment for invasive species when removing equipment for seasonal storage.
Whether or not a lake has any invasive species, Minnesota law requires people to:
• Clean watercraft, trailers and equipment to remove aquatic plants and prohibited invasive species.
• Drain all water and leave drain plugs out during transport.
• Dispose of unwanted bait in the trash.
• Never release bait, plants or aquarium pets into Minnesota waters.
• Dry docks, lifts and rafts for 21 days before moving them from one water body to another.
More information about aquatic invasive species can be found at mndnr.gov/ais. If you believe you have found zebra mussels or any other invasive species not known to be in the water body, go to mndnr.gov/ invasives/ais/contacts.html.
Frank Watson
COPS&COURTS
HUGO POLICE REPORTS
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents:
• Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies at 12:01 a.m. Sept. 15 took a report of a male walking around a driveway in the 5000 block of 127th Street N. and looking into cars. The complainants reported nothing taken from their vehicle, but deputies advised them to call for any further suspicious activity.
At 8:07 p.m. Sept. 18, a resident in the 5000 block of Upper 146th Street N. reported someone for pulling on car doors.
The complainant provided a description of the person and possible vehicle information associated with the activity.
• A report at 1:10 a.m. Sept. 15 of a vehicle parked over several stalls at Lions Park in the 5000 block of Upper 146th Street N. turned out to be juveniles out and about after curfew and after park closure. Deputies told them to leave.
• A motorist who ran the red light at Forest Blvd. N. and 130th Street N. at 2:59 a.m. Sept. 15 was arrested for DWI, after the driver showed signs of impairment during the traffic stop. The driver submitted to standardized field sobriety testing and showed a blood alcohol content of 0.114 on the portable breath test.
• Deputies initiated a pursuit at 4:51 a.m. Sept. 15 on 157th Street N. and 157th Way N.
• A motorist was arrested on a warrant at 3:57 p.m. Sept. 15, after deputies pulled the vehicle over on Forest Blvd. N. and 152nd Street N. and discovered the driver’s status.
• A theft was reported at 9:52 p.m. Sept. 15 from the 13000 block of Foxhill Avenue N. Deputies took a second theft report at 5:06 a.m. Sept. 16 in the 14000 block of Geneva Avenue N. involving a motorcycle trailer stolen from the complainant’s property. A happy ending resulted when the complainant found his trailer on the public roadway a few houses down on his way to work.
• A confrontational ward phoned in from the 17000 block of Farnham Avenue N. to badger deputies at 3:45 p.m. Sept. 16 with questions about being under mom’s guardianship. The disgruntled complainant, who appeared to have called in merely to complain, started reeling off one hypothetical question after another. Becoming ever unhappier about law enforcement’s answers to the questions, the complainant abruptly hung up on deputies.
• Deputies fielded several calls from concerned citizens Sept. 16-17 who offered information about a possible sighting of the fugitive following a homicide in the 15000 block of Ingersoll Avenue. After an overnight manhunt, the suspect, 45, was arrested for murder Sept. 17 in the 9800 block of 152nd Street N., when citizens noticed a person matching the suspect’s description in their yard.
• With school in session, reports of juveniles playing ding-dong-ditch continue (only earlier in the evening), including a report at 8:42 p.m. Sept. 16 in the 13000 block of Flay Road N.
• A suspicious vehicle reported for appearing at a residence in the 5000 block of 165th Street N at 4:12 p.m. Sept. 17 turned out to be CenterPoint employees working on gas lines in the area.
• A motorist was arrested at midnight Sept. 19 on Highway 61 at 147th Street N. for multiple violations, including lying about one of the violations. Deputies
PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS
Minnesota ‘Driving While Impaired Dashboard’ available to public
The Minnesota Department of Public Safety Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has launched a new version of its map-driven tool for learning about crashes and arrests related to impaired driving. The tool is now available to the public for the first time.
pulled the vehicle over after conducting a random Mobile Data Computer check of a vehicle and found the driver to be revoked. After the driver claimed the vehicle was insured, deputies conducted another MDC check and found not only that there was no insurance on the vehicle, but that there were multiple convictions for failure to insure the vehicle.
• A southbound motorist was cited at 2:46 p.m. Sept. 19 on Highway 61 at 146th Street N. for failure to drive with due care, after she hit a bicyclist at low speed while turning right onto westbound 146th Street N.
The driver told deputies she wasn’t paying attention. The biker sustained minor injuries.
• A driver with the flashing yellow left-turn arrow was cited at 9:44 a.m. Sept. 20 on eastbound Frenchman Road and northbound Oneka Parkway N. for failure to yield, after he collided with a westbound vehicle with the green light. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
• A motor was reported found on Oneka Parkway N. and Prairie Trail N. at 7:01 p.m. Sept. 20 and removed from in the middle of the road.
• A group of juveniles was reported at 10:23 p.m. Sept. 20 for banging on garage doors in the 15000 block of Freedom Drive N. Deputies arriving on scene and found the juveniles. One of the youths admitted to the activity, saying they were trying to have fun. Deputies quickly advised him that this behavior among his friends was not acceptable and collected all their names and addresses. Ring doorbell footage showed the juveniles in action, after which they were brought home to their parents. Each of the youths involved was cited.
• Residents in the 4000 block of Victor Path N. at 12:29 a.m. Sept. 22 reported a male for stopping on their street, emerging from his vehicle and noticing the complainant, whereupon he hightailed it out of there.
• At 2:35 a.m. Sept. 22, residents in the 13000 block of Flint Circle N. reported a suspicious vehicle with three people in it that stopped in front of their house. The people in the vehicle left the vehicle and walked through the complainant’s backyard. Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies arriving on scene found the unoccupied car, but not the people.
• Deputies initiated a traffic stop at 5:13 p.m. Sept. 22 on Forest Blvd. N. and 130th Street N. and cited the driver.
• At 7:07 a.m. Sept. 23, deputies cited a different driver in the 4000 block of 159th Street N. for failure to stop at a stop sign in a 4-way intersection in a school zone. A third motorist was cited at 6:59 a.m. Sept. 25 in the 14000 block of Forest Blvd. N. for using their wireless communications device while driving, following a traffic stop for a missing tail light.
• A resident in the 4000 block of 158th Street N. at 6:45 p.m. Sept. 22 reported her political sign taken and damaged.
• Deputies took a phone call at 2:21 p.m. Sept. 23 from a resident in the 4000 block of Victor Path N. complaining about her cat and saying she no longer wants a cat. Deputies referred the caller to the Humane Society.
The Driving While Impaired (DWI) Dashboard allows user to search for information statewide, or in their own community. Results can be filtered by age, alcohol concentration, incident day, time and more. Search results can be downloaded in Excel and other formats.
The BCA first created the DWI Dashboard in 2016 to help law enforcement identify trends in crashes and arrests related to impaired driving that could help them plan prevention and response efforts. The tool law
• Deputies fielded a call at 4:09 p.m. Sept. 23 from the 15000 block of Empress Avenue N. wondering why deputies were on their property. The complainant was reminded that police do not usually like to just go onto properties without a reason.
• Residents in the 15000 block of Foster Drive N. at 4:23 p.m. Sept. 23 called in to find out how to start a Neighborhood Watch, and deputies directed them.
• An adult male was arrested for undisclosed offenses at 6:23 p.m. Sept. 23 on Forest Blvd. N. and 140th Street N. following a traffic stop for an obstructed license plate. A different individual was arrested at 3:02 p.m. Sept. 25 in the 4000 block of Heritage Parkway N. for violating a harassment restraining order.
• Deputies were dispatched out to the 15000 block of Fanning Drive N. at 6:19 p.m. Sept. 25 about a juvenile throwing rocks at other children and at vehicles. Deputies arrived in time to speak to the youth and the parent.
• Juveniles were reported on the roof of a building in the 5000 block of Upper 146th Street N. at 5:30 p.m. Sept. 25. But wait — at 4:27 p.m. Sept. 28, deputies caught juvenile males on the roof of the Lions Park building in the 5000 block of Upper 146th Street N. After the youths admitted to the activity, they were sent home after their parents were contacted.
• Deputies cited a vehicle parked in a boat access parking lot in the 6000 block of Greene Avenue N. at 7:54 a.m. Sept. 26 while displaying tabs that expired in April.
• Deputies reported themselves for hitting a mailbox in the 15000 block of Greene Avenue N. at 10:38 a.m. Sept. 26, after swerving right while looking at their Mobile Data Computer. Unlike nearly all drivers who take out mailboxes, deputies stopped, notified the owner and filed an accident report.
• A resident in the 8000 block of 140th Street N. at 2:21 p.m. Sept. 26 reported entering into an agreement with an unknown individual about their keeping their motor home on the complainant’s property. Now, the motor home appears to have been abandoned on the complaint’s property, and he doesn’t know what to do. After deputies tried in vain to contact the mobile homeowner, they suggest the complainant round up all the paperwork to assist in potentially getting rid of the mobile home.
• Residents in the 15000 block of French Drive N. at 2:59 p.m. Sept. 26 reported the landlord for opening their front door to put an eviction notice on it.
• Suspicious smoke reported around the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 3:54 p.m. Sept. 26 turned out to be people working on a generator.
• A disturbance was reported in the 15000 block of French Drive N. at 1:31 p.m. Sept. 28 after a woman blocked the neighbor woman from getting out of her vehicle because she thought the woman in the vehicle was high on marijuana. The argument escalated after the woman in the car accused her neighbor of animal abuse and her house of smelling like pot. Deputies separated the women and advised them to avoid each other.
• A license plate was reported stolen at 3:41 p.m. Sept. 28 in the 13000 block of Europa Trail Way N. Loretta Harding
enforcement uses are the same tool that is now available to the public.
The DWI Dashboard is available on the BCA website (dps.mn.gov) under Statistics/Reports.
Former Forest Lake Band Director, wife, die in collision
Former Forest Lake High School Band Director, Richard Hahn and his wife, teacher Jeanette Hanh, both died after a collision in Carver County.
According to the Carver County Sher-
iff’s Office, the accident happened near the intersection of County Road 50 and County Road 53 in Benton Township shortly before noon, Friday Oct. 11. Investigators say 75-year-old Hanh was stopped at a stop sign at an intersection with a stop sign only for easteast traffic. He started to enter the intersection, stopped, then attempted to cross the road when the couple’s vehicle was struck by a dump truck.
First Person Plural: Honoring immigrant stories in White Bear Lake
On the grounds of White Bear Center for the Arts, you might see new—even familiar faces. In the form of huge black and white mural portraits, local artist and White Bear Lake resident Cadex Herrera’s latest project, “First Person Plural,” shares the journeys of immigrants who now call White Bear Lake home.
Through in-depth conversations and interviews with ten immigrant community members, Herrera has created a powerful two-part project: a documentary that serves as a vital record, telling their stories and ways they’ve enriched their communities; and a series of murals that bring their faces to the public eye.
Herrera is a local mural artist who has created First Person Plural installations across the metro area, and now brings the project to White Bear Lake. First Person Plural refers to the collective pronouns “we,” “us” and “our.” In this project, Herrera zeroes in on the pronoun “we,” the first word in the Constitution of the United States. Embracing “we,” Herrera moves beyond the individual to emphasize community and togetherness.
“We immigrants are the invisible
force that makes this country work,” Herrera notes. “These murals are meant to make them visible.” One of the stories Herrera hopes to tell is that of Peter Atakpu, a lifelong educator who moved to the United States from Nigeria at a young age. Peter served as a principal in the St. Paul public school district for many years and is now the director and owner of the Mathnasium of White Bear Lake.
For many years, Peter and his wife have cultivated an impressive business, embodying the spirit of resilience and growth that exists in all of Herrera’s subjects. In conversation with Herrera, Peter shared his journey that began when he arrived in Minnesota over 40 years ago. Knowing limited English and speaking with a thick accent, he recalled
Upcoming Avenue of the Arts Events:
Fall Community Day
White Bear Center for the Arts
October 26, 1:00-3:00 PM
Celebrate fall with WBCA for an afternoon full of
people underestimating him because of his accent, and being perceived as less intelligent. With multiple degrees including a doctorate of philosophy in educational leadership, he defies that narrative. And now he uses his experience to help struggling students understand and excel in math.
Herrera collaborated with local organizations including Many Faces, the White Bear Lake Area Schools, White Bear Center for the Arts and the Rotary Club of White Bear Lake to connect him with folks willing to tell their stories, talking with ten immigrants over the course of a year.
As an immigrant himself, moving from Belize to the United States to pursue art when he was 19 years old, Herrera knows what it’s like to feel oth-
art! Compete in a pumpkin carving contest, and walk in a costume parade, fill out an art passport to enter a raffle, while giving several art mediums a try.
WBCA Cinema Club
White Bear Center for the Arts
November 7, 6:30-9:00 PM
WBCA is kicking off our movie screening series with the 1941 classic “Citizen Kane.” Often considered the best film ever made, see
er. “I remember walking into different spaces, the grocery store, or the library and realizing that I was different,” he says. “I didn’t want to be seen, and it took me a long time to say, ‘It’s okay for me to be in these spaces.’” That’s what he hopes to accomplish with this installation, for immigrants to feel seen and welcomed.
In the murals, faces are made up of dots akin to those of a demographic map. The dots represent numbers, statistics, and mobility. Inspired by photographs taken by Herrera, shot at a lower angle with the subject facing the viewer, each image is imbued with dignity as if to say “Look at me–I am here, look me in the eye.”
You can see “First Person Plural” on view at White Bear Center for the Arts starting Oct. 24, through May 2025.
This is a Many Faces event hosted by White Bear Center for the Arts. This exhibition is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation by the Minnesota State Legislature; and by a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts.
how this groundbreaking film has influenced the media we watch today.
Fuddy Meers
The Hanifl Performing Arts Center Black Box Theatre November 1-11
Century College Playhouse presents their fall play, a poignant, yet brutal comedy about a woman’s quest to regain her memory.
Bear girls XC team wins close section, heads for state
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
After White Bear Lake girls cross county won an extremely close section meet, their coach Bear alum Audrey Kirschlng, was asked how long it’s been since that happened — a question she could easily answer.
“The last time White Bear won sections was in 2017, my senior year on the team! This was also the last time White Bear has come in first at a meet,” Kirschling said.
So the Bears, who placed third in their conference a week earlier, had not won a meet in seven years but figured they had as good a chance as anyone in Section 4AAA, which has no ranked teams, if they ran well. After all seven Bears puffed their way into the chute at Highland National Golf Club, they kept their eyes peeled on the scoreboard that quickly tabulated the results.
“Then they just all started screaming and cheering,” said Logan Bailey, the Bears’ lead runner, about her teammates.
White Bear Lake 58, St. Paul Central 60, Two Rivers 60 is what the scoreboard said, as close a meet as you could imagine, to earn a trip to state as a team. Following were Woodbury with 85, Stillwater 94, East Ridge 152 and Tartan 214. Kirschling said the Bears prevailed by “working as a team and using each other as a momentum. They have built strength on each other. They’ve built relationships.” The kids knew what opponents they needed to run with and beat. “We didn’t have any
crazy surprises. We all ran about like we expected to.”
The Bears will be one of 16 teams running in the Class 3A girls meet starting 12:15 p.m. Saturday at the University of Minnesota Golf Course.
Bailey, a freshman, placed second in 18:43 behind East Ridge senior Lydia Franson (18:36). Bailey is turning in the Bears’ best times since all-stater Maggie Blanding in 2017. She is daughter of former Bear standout Brian Bailey, now the coach of the Roseville Area boys. She is also a hockey player.
Four Cougars qualify for state cross-country
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Four Centennial runners advanced to the state cross country meet while the Cougar girls placed third and the boys fifth in Section 7AAA on Thursday on Anoka High School’s course.
In the girls race, Cougar senior Kylie Nelson placed fourth in 18:43 while senior Miranda Sawvel also made the cut placing 14th in 19:24.
In the boys race, Cougar senior Alex Persing placed eighth in 16:42 while junior Liban Ahmed also qualified by placing 14th in 16:52.
who passed several runners and was running very strong into the chute at the end.
The Cougars will run Saturday at the University of Minnesota Golf Course, girls at 12:15 p.m., boys at 1 p.m. Team champions were the Forest Lake girls, led by Norah Hushagen, defending state champion, who won in 17:32, and the Duluth East boys. Lachan Demmer of Coon Rapids placed first in 15:49.
The Bears got a big boost from seventh-grader Isla Bloomquist finishing ninth in 19:37. “She is just learning how to run the race, the whole race,” Kirschling said. Following were senior Amelia Nachtsheim, 11th in 19:45; sophomore Clara Kolstad, 17th in 20:39.8; sophomore Erika Milhofer, 21st in 21:01.2; seventh-grader Anna Rogers, 28th in 21:26; and junior Brynn Heinsohn, 31st in 21:32.
Section next for Bears swimmers
Nelson is a two-time all-state runner, placing 13th as a junior and 21st as a sophomore. She said it’s been a “pretty good” senior year. “I got my personal best a couple weeks ago at the Elk River meet,” said Nelson. That time was 18:26.
Nelson was an all-conference gymnast but discontinued that sport after 10th grade when her running career was taking off. “I switched to Nordic skiing in the winter,” Nelson said. “I didn’t want to get hurt (in gymnastics). I want to run in college.”
Persing will make his third state trip. Midway through the race, he was back in the pack a ways, but he picked up steam. “I usually go a little easy the first half of the race,” said Persing,
Girls team scoring was Forest Lake 26, Duluth East had 66, Centennial 89, Blaine 131, Andover 132, CambridgeIsanti 137, Coon Rapids 138 and Anoka 212. Boys team scoring was Duluth East 47, Blaine 54, Anoka 107, Coon Rapids 111, Centennial 124, Forest Lake 136, Cambridge-Isanti 140, and Andover 159.
The Cougar girls had qualified for state the last two years with close runner-up finishes to Forest Lake. Their top five also included freshman Emma Delf, 18th in 19:58; senior Annelise Offerdahl, 26th in 20:58; and sophomore Brooke Hayes, 27th in 21:00.
The Cougar boys top five also included junior Kyler Nielsen, 19th in 17:06; freshman Evan Lautenschlager, 33rd in 17:52; and sophomore Andrew Parent, 50th in 18:47.
ATHLETE OF THE WEEK
Bruce Strand
The White Bear Lake swimmers won their regular-season finale over Park 107-99 at the YMCA, finishing 2-7 in duals. Event winners were Audrey Borofka (50 free and 100 free), Eva Hoefer (200 free), Charlotte McIntyre (medley), Anna Miller (500 free), the 200 free relay with Borofka, Lily Jenkins, Madison Hanscom and McIntyre and the 400 free relay with Borofka, Jenkins, Brigid McVeigh and McIntyre. Next is the sectional Nov. 7-8-9 in Stillwater.
Top-seeded Cougars clip Cards in playoffs
Centennial is top seeded in the Section 7AAAA volleyball tournament and opened with a win over the Coon Rapids Cardinals, 25-12, 25-9, 25-7, at home on Thursday evening.
Eleną Hoecke notched 13 kills and five aces, Emma Peterson six kills and 10 digs and Addison Kemper five kills and four aces. Chase Manthey made 17 assists.
The Cougars (18-11) face Blaine (12-16) at home Tuesday, 6 p.m. in the semifinals while Anoka takes on Forest Lake. The championship will be played Thursday at North Branch, 7 p.m.
Bruce Strand
Centennial Cross Country
Miranda Sawvel is a strong No. 2 runner on the Centennial cross country team that’s done well throughout her career. Sawvel, a senior, helped the Cougars placed third in the conference and section meets this season. She earned allSEC honors for the second time with an 11th-place finish in a 14-team meet, then qualified for state with a 14th place finish in Section 4AAA last week. She broke 20 minutes twice this year with 19:51 at Otsego and her career best 19:24 in the sectional at Anoka.
BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED
Headed for state are, from left, Alex Persing, Kylie Nelson, Liban Ahmed and Miranda Sawvel.
RON ENGH | CONTRIBUTED
The section champs, from left: Isla Bloomquist, Amelia Nachtsheim, Logan Bailey, Brynn Heinsohn, Anna Rogers, Clara Kolstad and Erika Milhofer.
BRUCE STRAND CONTRIBUTED Logan Bailey led the Bears with a secondplace finish.
