TUESDAY, JULY 16 - SUNDAY, JULY 21, 2024 • CENTERVILLE
Centerville kicks off summer festival
‘Best
Get excited, because Quad’s Best of the Press Readers’ Choice Contest is back! Voting begins at 8 a.m. Wednesday, July 10 and will continue until 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 4.
The ‘best of’ contest allows locals to pick their favorites, ranging from the best community parks to area businesses and everything in between. Voting is available on the Press Publications website at www.presspubs.com/quad/bestof/ Each reader may vote up to one time per day. Winners will be announced in October and recognized in a special section of the Quad Community Press and posted online.
Lino Lakes couple shares rollercoaster birth journey
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
Just as fast as you can blink is about how fast Everett Engen made his entrance into the world at 3 lbs 10 oz. Everett, son of Faith and Elliott Engen, was born 12 weeks before his due date.
The Lino Lakes couple had just returned from a road trip to South Dakota to visit family over Easter weekend when Faith started having backpain when she was 28 weeks pregnant.
“I thought it was kind of weird, but I thought I would lay down and see if it goes away …” she recalled. Her backpain wasn’t improving and she started to have some
cramping. At her regularly schedule checkup the next day she told the doctors what she was experiencing, and they sent her home with a new medication to try.
“It was just getting worse,” she said. She called her doctor, and they prescribed a different medication. At that point, her mother and mother-in-law came over. Meanwhile, Elliot, who is a member of the House of Representatives (District 36A), was on the house floor.
“Eventually we were like okay, this is not right, something is wrong,” Faith explained. “Elliott came rushing home and they were all like it is time to go in … I was in so much pain I didn’t know if I could move.”
Elliott went into the bathroom to try to help Faith change and as soon as she tried to step into the pants the unthinkable happened. “I go to put my leg in the pants, and I go ‘nope, can’t do it.’ I go to lay down and before I even hit the floor (Everett) was there.”
The call
Their family called 911 and while they were waiting for the police and paramedics to arrive, Elliott placed Everett on his mom’s stomach.
“We were just laying there, and he was crying … I thought as long as he is crying, he is okay,” Faith recalled.
SEE BIRTH JOURNEY, PAGE 15
Everett William Engen, son of Faith and Elliott Engen, is back home after spending 75 days in the Neonatal intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul.
Lino Lakes author combines love of storytelling, art
Lino Lakes resident Nicolle Carlson is a mother, secretary, author and self-publisher. She recently authored and self-published her first book, “Monsters are Pretend” and is working on her second book. Press Publications recently sat down with her to learn more about her and her work.
Q. Tell us about yourself.
A. I’m a proud mom of two energetic boys, who keep me on my toes and inspire my creativity every day. I’ve been drawing as long as I can remember, and my passion for art has been a constant companion throughout my life. Recently, I embarked on an exciting journey as a first time, self-publisher, combining my love for storytelling with my artistic skills to create memorable experiences for readers. By day, I work as a secretary at a law firm. My family and I reside in Lino Lakes.
Q. What inspired you to write “Monsters are Pretend?”
A. My son was talking about “scary robots” in his closet, and it just didn’t matter how many times we said they were not real, he kept having sleeping issues. I used to work with children, and they learn much quicker with hands-on activities so the idea of creating a story where the kiddos get up and move around and establish some self-confidence came to be.
Q. What do you hope for your readers to take away from your story?
A. That if you stand up for yourself, be brave and confident, even you can become a superhero.
Q. Tell us about the publishing process that your book went through.
A. I am a first time self-publisher so I gathered a ton of information from the internet, and was lucky enough to have a friend, Amanda Cooney, who pub-
lished recently and was able to answer questions I had.
I wish it was just as easy as writing and illustrating but it is a ton of work! There is so much stuff to work out such as formatting, which is different for all cover options, color restrictions, text restrictions, number of pages, keywords, trim and binding sizes and so much more.
I don’t think people realize how much work goes into it. Amazon prints and ships my soft cover orders on demand. Because this book is targeted to younger children, I wanted board books to be an option so I worked with a company in India to publish those. The board books available (also on Amazon) come from my new company BusyBee Books. Those books get packaged and shipped by me.
Q. Do you have any other published work?
A. This is my first book and I am starting to work on my second one.
Q. Aside from writing, what do you like to spend your time doing?
A. Being with my family. I have a 4-year-old and 18-month-old and they keep my husband and I very busy, especially the youngest one. They weren’t kidding when they talked about that second child. I can’t look away for more than 10 seconds with that one. We like to spend our summers up at the cabin and fishing as much as possible.
Q. What are your future plans as a writer?
A. My goal is to try and publish one book a year until I run out of ideas. I’d like my company to grow into greeting cards and stickers, but I just don’t have the time right now.
Q. Where can people purchase your book?
A. On Amazon.
COMMUNITY BRIEF
Compiled by Amy Holmberg
Pet organizations seek to raise funds to fill gap
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,
described 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.”
Lino Lakes resident Nicolle Carlson has published her first book “Monsters are Pretend.”
WHAT’S HAPPENING
ONGOING EVENTS
HUGO SENIOR CLUB CHICKEN DINNER
When: 5 p.m. Monday, July 15
Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.
Details: Dinner followed by BINGO. RSVP by July 11 to Krista, 651-895-9951 or Mavis, 651-248-5849. Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnolly1958@yahoo.com
MARKETFEST
When: 6-9 p.m. Thursdays, June 13 through July 25
Where: Downtown White Bear Lake
Details: Community summer festival with 200+ food and vendor booths, live music, car show, kids activities, specials at local merchants. Theme weeks include: Avenue of the Arts on June 13; History Night June 20, and White Bear Lake Area Schools June 27. Contact: marketfestwbl.com
BALD EAGLE WATERSKI SHOWS
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays, June 13 through end of August Where: Trailside Park, Centerville
Details: Volunteer team of waterskiers performs weekly throughout the summer, and travels throughout Minnesota to perform weekend shows. Contact: baldeaglewaterskishows.net
LEXINGTON FARMERS MARKET
When: 3 to 6 p.m. Wednesdays
Where: Lexington Municipal Liquor Store front parking lot, 9271 Lake Drive
Details: Vendors selling veggies and fruit, baked goods, Maple syrup, tea and homemade gifts. Contact: Karen Gregory 612-272-3386 or kgregory244@ gmail.com
CURRENT EVENTS
CENTERVILLE MUSIC IN THE PARK
When: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, July 9
Where: Hidden Spring Park, Centerville
Details: This week’s concert will feature The Dirty Shorts Brass Band Contact: Facebook.com/CentervilleMusicInThePark
ST. PAUL HIKING CLUB
When: 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 9
Where: Veterans Memorial Park (Triangle Park), Mahtomedi
Details: Hike neighborhoods and trail along White Bear Lake. Treats follow at Wildwood Tavern. Contact: stpaulhike.com
LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST
When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, July 10
Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes
Details: Free naturalist-led program for ages 16+. May include trail hike. Registration not required; equipment provided. Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com
MUSIC ON THE LAKE
When: 7-8:30 p.m. Thursday, July 11
Where: Golden Lake Park, 67 W. Golden Lake Rd., Circle Pines
Details: Free outdoor communiy concert featuring The Floras.
Contact: isd12.ce.eleyo.com
BILL THE JUGGLER
When: 6:30 p.m. Friday, July 12
Where: Lions Park, 5524 Upper 146th St. N., Hugo
Details: Comedic juggling show geared to children 5 and older and includes audience participation. Contact: washcolib.org/events
FILLEBROWN HOUSE TOUR
When: 11 a.m. Saturday, July 13
Where: Fillebrown House, 4735 Lake Avenue
Details: Tour the 1879 lakeside cottage and learn about life during the resort era. Registration required. Contact: 651-407-5327 or whitebearhistory.org
CAMPFIRE TALKS WITH A NATURALIST
When: 7-7:45 p.m. Saturday, July 13
Where: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Campground
Details: Family-friendly naturalist-led presentation on Snakes. Free. Contact: anokacountyparks.com
MOVIE IN THE PARK
When: Dusk, July 13
Where: Polar Lakes Park,1280 Hammond Rd., White Bear Township
Details: Bring a lawn chair or banket and bug spray and watch a free family-friendly movie outdoors. “Wonka” shows on July 13. See weather updates on facebook. Contact: facebook.com/WhiteBearTownshipMNOfficialSite
SUMMER LAWN CONCERT
When: 1 p.m. Sunday, July 14
Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave. Details: Enjoy a Johnny Cash musical tribute concert by Mitchell Hall. Rain or shine; pay-what-you-want admission. Contact: lakeshoreplayers.com
ST. PAUL HIKING CLUB PICNIC AND HIKE
When: 1 p.m. Sunday, July 14
Where: Keller Regional Park shelter #3, Maplewood Details: Annual potuck picnic followed by a 3 mile hike on paved trail. Contact: stpaulhike.com
Learn to Bike Ride
When: 10-11:30 a.m. Sunday, July 14
Where: Wargo Nature Center, Details: Program geared to kids ages 8-15 who have never ridden a bike or want to improve skills. Registration information online.
Contact: anokacountyparks.com
OBITUARY
Michael H. Muehlbauer
age 84, of Circle Pines, MN, passed away peacefully on June 8, 2024.
Born on July 1, 1939, in Pittsburgh, PA, Mike was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and friend whose life was marked by love, loyalty, and a deep sense of duty.
Mike was married to his beloved wife, Norma, for over 57 years. Together, they built a life centered around their family, which was Mike’s greatest joy and purpose. He is survived by his sons Michael J. Muehlbauer (Amy) and Robert Muehlbauer, and daughter Michelle Burr (Rich). Mike was a loving grandfather (Pap/ Pappy) to Morgan Muehlbauer, Ainsley Muehlbauer, Jayden Burr, and Jamisen Burr, each of whom held a special place in his heart.
A celebration of Mike’s life will be held at Mueller-Bies Funeral Home in Lino Lakes, MN on July 17, 2024, at 11:00 AM. With private family burial service at Ft. Snelling. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the Tunnel to Towers Foundation in Mike’s memory.
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
Entering my intern era
My name is Olivia Decker, and I am thrilled to join Press Publications as a 2024 summer intern.
Decker’s
Diary
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.
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.
IThe 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 Lacs, which has the
Movers & Shakers
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
QUAD COMMUNITY PRESS | ELECTION LETTER GUIDELINES
Election season is considered to be from the filing deadline until the day of the election.
• Limited to 350 words.
Letters are free unless endorsing or opposing a candidate, party or question on the ballot.
Endorsement/opposition letters will have a $50 fee. Please call 651-407-1200 to arrange payment by credit card or mail a check payable to Press Publications to 4779 Bloom Ave, White Bear Lake, MN, 55110. Endorsement/opposition letters are labeled, “paid letter.”
Submissions must include a full name, address and phone
number for verification.
Letter-writers must live, work or have another connection to Press Publications coverage area.
Letters are meant to express opinions. If letter-writers include facts, they must attribute those facts to a reputable news source.
Due to space limitations, letters that don’t address local issues are not guaranteed publication. Repeat unpaid letters by the same writer about the same subject matter will not be published. Repeat paid endorsement letters will be
published as space permits. Four weeks (or issues) must pass between publication of unpaid letters from the same writer. Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters at the editor’s discretion. Submissions containing libelous or derogatory statements will not be published.
• Letters by campaign managers or candidates designed to champion the candidate’s position on a specific issue will be accepted as paid letters.
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All letters are subject to editing. We reserve the right to not publish any letter.
• The deadline to submit a letter is 5 p.m. Wednesday the week prior to publication. The last batch of letters to be printed before the Nov. 5 election will be printed in the Oct. 23 issue and must be received by 5 p.m. Wednesday, Oct.16. To submit a letter, email news@ presspubs.com or mail/deliver it to Press Publications.
D. Love
City council tables Madinah Lakes concept plan
BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
LINO LAKES — Zikar Holdings, the developer of Madinah Lakes, will have to wait to present its concept plan to the City Council until August, or after a moratorium passes..
The city’s environmental board, park board and planning and zoning board have all already reviewed the concept plan for the proposed development and offered comments to both the developer and the City Council for consideration.
The City Council was scheduled to offer comments on the concept plan last week, but in a 3-2 vote (Mayor Rob Rafferty and Council Member Tony Cavegn opposed) the council chose to table the concept plan review until Aug. 19, after a moratorium would go into effect if approved. (The second reading for a moratorium was scheduled for July 8, after press deadline.)
Council Member Christopher Lyden suggested the item be tabled until a master plan is completed for the northwest quadrant. Council Member Michael Ruhland said he was also going to suggest the item be tabled too.
“I’m confused on why we are reviewing (the concept plan),” Ruhland said. “If ultimately we are looking at revising that area potentially, getting studies done, things change, it seems premature and potentially a waste of time.”
Lyden added, “We do not want this process to be tainted in any way … so best practice is we do table this until we have done our study. We have no clue what this is going to look like, if there is going to be a comprehensive plan amendment, a zoning change, we have nothing sticking on the wall right now.”
Community Development Director Michael Grochala explained that all that was in front of the council was a concept plan review, which is “non-binding” and “high-level” comments to the developer. He recommended the council stay the course and complete the concept review process by hearing the completed staff report and concept plan presentation from the Zikar Holdings.
“The council is asked to provide any comments they have on it. It may help inform the process as we move forward as well,” Grochala said.
Cavegn said he was opposed to tabling the item. “The moratorium is not in place, so at this point we should be following our process,” he said. “The developer has come to discuss this. If we wanted to table this, we should have had the discussion previously. At this point, there is no reason for the process not to move forward.”
Rafferty said he agreed with Cavegn. “I am in favor of seeing the review for the concept plan. There is time that has been put in by staff as well as the developer and architectural team,” he said. “I think it is fair to be able to see that and let things fall into place.”
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 — a recent Minnesota Gophers commit — 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 in Anaheim, California. 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 five-star 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.
Ruhland said listening to the concept plan presentation and offering comments to the developer “seemed silly” and would be putting the “cart before the horse.”
Cavegn suggested that even if the moratorium were to go into effect, comments could still be helpful to the developer. “I think initial feedback would be appreciated. I’m sure we all have some feedback for them.”
Ruhland explained that the feedback he would give now may change going forward depending on the outcome of the Master Plan, traffic study and environmental review. Lyden echoed, “Anything we say right now could be extremely misleading … It does not serve any or all of us in any way.”
Ruhland expressed his frustration, saying this scenario is exactly what he tried to avoid in the first place by proposing a moratorium. “I didn’t want the developer to spend money on a concept plan review,” he said. He suggested the city consider offering the developer a credit for staff time, so in the future, if they want to go through the concept review plan process again, they wouldn’t have to be charged again.
Ultimately, the concept plan was tabled to Aug. 19, which would be four days after the proposed moratorium could go into effect. It would also meet the 120-day deadline the city has to review the concept plan, which lapses Aug. 23.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.
Blaine welcomes professional golfers and fans for the 3M Open
BY MADELINE DOLBY STAFF WRITER
Professional golfers and golf fans alike will spend a weekend enjoying a Minnesota summer at the 3M Open in Blaine starting on Monday, July 22.
The 3M Open is an annual PGA Tour event that takes place at the TPC Twin Cities in Blaine. The event brings in 156 of the best professional golfers in the world and thousands of fans.
TPC Twin Cities is a championship golf course that was designed by golfing legend Arnold Palmer and the University of Minnesota alumnus and professional golfer Tom Lehman. The course opened in 2000 and became a stop on the senior tour for the 3M Championship in 2001.
The course hosted the championships for 18 years up until 2019, when the PGA Tour debuted its first tournament at TPC Twin Cities with the 3M Open.
Now, the course will welcome golf fans and players for its fifth year of a seven-year contract with the PGA.
“The city of Blaine is excited to welcome the crowd to the 3M Open this summer,” said Ben Hayle, communications manager for the city of Blaine. “It is a fantastic event for not only the Blaine community but for the entire state of Minnesota.”
What makes this course unique for a PGA Tour is because it is located within a residential neighborhood. Because of this, various safety measures have been implemented for the tournament to commence smoothly.
The Blaine Police Department is the lead agency for the planning and implementation of these measures. Only those with paper credentials or identification are allowed through the credential checkpoints. Anyone in a vehicle, on a bike or on foot will need to those credentials to be allowed through the checkpoints on site.
According to Hayle, Blaine residents can expect to see an increase in traffic during the week of the tournament. There will be temporary stop lights set up around the site to help with traffic flow.
“It can really be a great atmosphere,” said Hayle. “It’s a great family-friendly event, whether you are going to walk around the whole course and check out
everything it has to offer or find a great spot to put down a chair and take in the action.”
Last year’s tournament winner, Lee Hodges, took home the trophy and a prize of $1.1 million dollars shooting -24 for the weekend. This year, the prize is predicted to be over $8 million dollars.
Not only does the Champion’s prize and FedEx Cup points have a large impact, so does the economic influence the tournament has on the city of Blaine and the north metro.
Per year, the 3M Open brings in an estimated $50 million to the region. A majority of the sum will stay in the city of Blaine.
On Friday, July 26, attendees are encouraged to wear red, white and blue as the 3M Open will host its first Folds of Honor Friday, in partnership with Huntington Bank and Cub, to honor service men and women and first responders. Prior to the second round of competition, Folds of Honor Friday will include an Honor Guard presentation and the national anthem will be performed in the practice area at TPC Twin Cities by Emma Carpenter, a former University of Minnesota golf team member and current media personality.
Visitors can also grab tickets to see county music singer Chris Lane perform at approximately 6:45 p.m. on Saturday, July 27 at the 3M Open Post Play Par-Tee. There are two ticket options for fans that Saturday. One option includes a ticket to the tournament and concert while the other is a golf-only ticket. There is also a fan village on site for visitors to enjoy.
“There is so much for golf fans and non-golf fans alike at the tournament,” said Hayle. “It’s just a great thing to have in our community.”
General parking for spectators will be at the National Sports Center, 1750 105th Ave. N., Blaine.
For more information about the 3M Open, visit the tournament website at www.3MOpen.com.
Madeline Dolby is a staff writer at Press Publications. She can be reached at 651-407-1226 or at shoreviewnews@ presspubs.com.
Elena Hoecke will play for Team USA in an international volleyball tournament in Honduras
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Elena Hoecke posed on the U of M campus. She will join the Gopher volleyball team in 2026.
The Lino Lakes Police Department reports the following incidents:
• An officer stopped a vehicle that had driven around a road-closed barricade in a construction zone in the 100 block of Main Street June 25. The driver was ultimately arrested for third-degree DWI and booked into jail.
• An officer responded to a property damage report involving graffiti to city owned playground equipment in the 6500 block of Pheasant Run South June 25. The investigation is ongoing.
• An officer took a property damage hit and run report in the 6600 block of Blue Heron Drive June 25. There is no suspect information, and the incident was documented.
• An officer stopped a vehicle known to be driven by a male who did not possess a driver’s license in the 6700 block of 20th Avenue June 27. The officer arrested the driver, as it was
Tucker-Lee is an active, playful, affectionate, friendly guy, and he is waiting for a loving forever home and family. He is housetrained
his second offense of the night.
• An officer made a traffic stop in the 600 block of 79th Street after a driver was observed throwing a cigarette out the window June 28. The driver was issued a citation for the offense.
• Officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle near Holly Drive and North Trappers Crossing June 28. Officers located the vehicle and contacted the driver. Officers arrested the driver for possession of controlled substances.
• Officers responded to a report of a fight in the 300 block of Ware Circle June 28. Upon arrival, officers discovered two parties were arguing over burnt pizza and no crime had occurred.
• An officer was dispatched to the area of Ware Road and Birch Street regarding a noise complaint June 29. The officer contacted the construction crew and advised them of the permitted working hours by city ordinance.
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.
Tucker loves to play and explore and, if allowed, he would stay outside all day 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
• An officer responded to a damage to property report in the 6000 block of Bald Eagle Boulevard June 29. The incident was documented.
• An officer was dispatched to a residence for a fire in the 500 block of Arrowhead Drive June 29. Upon arrival, the fire was out, and fire personnel took over the call.
• An officer took a report of a hit and run in the 700 block of Apollo Drive June 29. The officer located the suspect and was ultimately issued a citation.
• An officer responded to a residence in the 7500 block of Patti Drive for a complaint of loud music June 29. The officers contacted the adult homeowners who were hosting a party. The music was turned down and no other problems were found or reported.
• Officers responded to a report of a sexual assault at a residence in Lino Lakes June 30. Officers obtained statements and the victim was trans-
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 Tucker-Lee or adopting him, fill out an application at www.ruffstartrescue.org.
ported to a nearby hospital. The investigation is ongoing.
• An officer was dispatched to a structure fire in the 6100 block of Holly Drive June 30. The fire was contained, and fire personnel handle the call.
• An officer responded to a fraud report in the 600 block of Town Center Parkway June 30. The officer investigated and determined a crime occurred. The investigation is ongoing.
• An officer responded to a report of two suspicious people walking around in the 7100 block of Snow Owl Lane shining lights at homes July 1. The officer determined the people were looking for their cat.
Editor’s note: The Centennial Lakes Police Department did not submit media reports due to the holiday and will submit two weeks’ worth of reports next week.
CALENDER BRIEF
Golden Lake Elementary hosts bike rodeo
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.
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.
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
CENTENNIAL MIDDLE SCHOOL
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
Fools. For more info visit: bit.ly/centervillemitp Swag bags for first 150 provided by the EDA, with freebies & offerings from local businesses. Public Safety Night - Centennial Lakes Police Department & Centennial Fire District, plus partners Anoka County Emergency Touch-A-Truck: Police Cars, Fire Trucks, & Ambulance; DIY First Aid Kits Hosted by Scouts BSA Troop 136, K9 Unit Demo, Life Link III Helicopter Landing, Fire Trailer Demos, and more.
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)
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CENTERVILLE TIDBITS
• 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.
• 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
EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preferen ce, limitation or discriminat ion based on race, co lo r, religion, sex, handicap, familial status or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such preferen ce limitation or discriminat ion.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal cu stod ians; pregnant women and peop le securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not kn owingly accept any ad vertising for real esta te which is in violation of the law. Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newsp ap er are available on an equal opportunity basis To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777. The toll-free number for hearing impaired is 1-800-927-9275
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.
SCHOOL BRIEF
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-A-Truck, 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.
The council next meets at 6:30 p.m., Wednesday, July 10 at City Hall, 1880 Main St.
Loretta Harding
Northeast Metro 916 welcomes new executive director of special services
Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District has appointment Dave Haveman as the new executive director of special services. In the role, Haveman will oversee all special education services.
“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.”
Developer ‘ghosts’ city of Centerville
LORETTA HARDING CONTRIBUTING
WRITER
CENTERVILLE — 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
CITY OF CIRCLE PINES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST
stop engaging with the city altogether midway through the approval journey.
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.
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public accuracy test of vote counting equipment to be used in the August 13, 2024 Primary Election will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 10:00 AM at Circle Pines City Hall, 200 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines, MN 55014.
If you would like to witness this demonstration, you are welcome to do so at the above mentioned location.
Chandra Peterson
Assistant City Administrator for Public Services
Published one time in the Quad Community Press on July 9, 2024.
CITY OF LINO LAKES, MINNESOTA
NOTICE OF HEARING ON IMPROVEMENT
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN:
Notice is hereby given that the City Council of Lino Lakes, Minnesota will meet in the council chambers of the city hall at 6:30 p.m. on July 22, 2024, to consider improvements for the 2024/2025 Street Reconstruction and Municipal Sewer and Water Extension, Pine Haven project. The project will include the extension of municipal sewer and water to the Pine Haven neighborhood which is located on 81st Street, Danube Street, and Elbe Street. Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §429.011 to 429.111 and City Charter, the area proposed to be assessed for such improvement is generally described as the property located on the easterly side of Lake Drive: 8060, 8066, and 8074 in addition to those with 81st Street, Danube Street, and Elbe Street addresses. The estimated cost of the improvement is $3,336,193 of which $480,000 is proposed to be assessed. A reasonable estimate of the impact of the assessment will be available at the hearing. Such persons as desire to be heard with reference to the proposed improvement will be heard at this meeting. For further information regarding the above item, contact Diane Hankee, City Engineer, at 651 982-2430.
A sign language or foreign language translator may be requested by contacting City Hall a minimum of 48 hours prior to the hearing. Anyone wishing to be heard regarding these items will be given the opportunity at the time of the hearing. Roberta Colotti, City Clerk
Published two times in the Quad Community Press on July 2, 2024 and July 9, 2024.
CITY OF LINO LAKES PUBLIC NOTICE
Date: June 14, 2024
To: All Interested Citizens, Organizations and Government Agencies
From: Sara Mollamohammada, Graduate Engineer Drinking Water Protection Section Environmental Health Division
Subject: Drinking Water System Project Loan Applicant: City of Lino Lakes Loan Project No.: 1020023-3
The City of Lino Lakes is applying for a construction loan under the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) drinking water revolving fund program and is, therefore, subject to the state environmental review process. This notice is to advise the public that MDH staff has reviewed the proposed
On April 25, city staff sent a letter advising the developer of the deadline extension and 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.
project and has determined that preparing an Environmental Assessment Worksheet is not required.
The loan applicant has solicited public comment on potential environmental consequences.
After reviewing any comments received we conclude that construction and project implementation will lead to no significant environmental impact.
The environmental summary included with this notice provides information on the existing and proposed drinking water infrastructure and associated environmental considerations. If there are comments about this environmental review process, they must be received within 15 days. They should be submitted to:
Sara Mollamohammada
Minnesota Department of Health
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMARY
DRINKING WATER REVOLVING LOAN FUND
Project Name: Lino Lakes Water Treatment Plant
DWRF Project Number 1020023-3
Project Proposer
City of Lino Lakes c/o Ms. Jolleen Chaika, Clerk
Lino Lakes City Hall
600 Town Center Parkway
Lino Lakes, Minnesota 55014
Project Location - Legal Description
NE ¼ of SE ¼ of Section 28, Township 31N, Range 22W
City of Lino Lakes, Minnesota
Anoka County
Present Water System, Need, and Selected Alternative
The City of Lino Lakes’ existing water system consists of six wells, chemical addition of chlorine, fluoride, and corrosion control inhibitors, three elevated storage tanks, and a distribution system piping.
The system has elevated levels of manganese in five wells. The proposed project involves constructing a new water treatment plant with gravity filtration treatment for iron and manganese removal.
Environmental Impacts
The primary impacts of the projects are the short-term construction related disturbances such as dust and noise. The short-term impacts will be mitigated by the use of standard construction practices. Effective soil erosion and dust control measures will be carried out as often as necessary to prevent any dust or erosion that may be damaging to property, area vegetation, wildlife, adjacent lands, surface water bodies, or may cause a nuisance to persons in the vicinity.
The state-listed threatened and endangered species that may be found in the proposed project location include Blanding’s turtle and Clinton’s bulrush. The project’s disturbance area does not contain suitable habitat for Clinton’s bulrush. Construction contractors will be provided with Blanding’s turtle fact sheets.
Federally listed species in the area include the Northern long-eared bat, tricolored bat, monarch butterfly, whooping crane, and salamander mussel. The project is not expected to result in any direct impacts to these species. There is one wetland within the project area. Wetland impacts are being avoided, and a stormwater pond on-site will provide water quality and rate
“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.
control before water enters the wetlands.
The project is not expected to result in any direct impacts (other than those listed above) to: threatened or endangered plant or animal species or their habitats; wetlands; flood plains; nearby farmland; historic, architectural, cultural, or archaeological features; shore lands; or air quality non-attainment areas.
Public Participation Program
The City of Lino LakeS published the environmental review public notice in the local newspaper on May 14, 2024.
Sara Mollamohammada
Minnesota Department of Health
Graduate Engineer Section of Drinking Water Protection
P.O. Box 64975
St. Paul, Minnesota 55164-0975
651-539-3010
Sara.mollamohammada@state.mn.us
Published one time in the Quad Community Press on July 9, 2024.
CITY OF LINO LAKES
NOTICE OF PUBLIC ACCURACY TEST
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public accuracy test of vote counting equipment to be used in the August 13, 2024 State Primary Election will be held on Thursday, July 18, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at Lino Lakes City Hall, 600 Town Center Parkway, Lino Lakes, MN 55014. Questions can be directed to the City Clerk’s office at Clerk@linolakes.us or 651-982-2499.
Submitted By: Roberta Colotti, CMC
City Clerk
Published one time in the Quad Community Press on July 9, 2024.
INDEPENDENT SCHOOL DISTRICT NO. 12 (CENTENNIAL) STATE OF MINNESOTA
NOTICE OF FILING DATES FOR ELECTION TO THE SCHOOL BOARD NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the period for filing affidavits of candidacy for the office of school board member of Independent School District No. 12 shall begin on July 30, 2024 and shall close at 5:00 o’clock p.m. on August 13, 2024. The general election shall be held on Tuesday, November 5, 2024. At that election, three members will be elected to the School Board for terms of four (4) years each. Affidavits of Candidacy are available from the school district election clerk, 4707 North Road, Circle Pines, Minnesota. The filing fee for this office is $2. A candidate for this office must be an eligible voter, must be 21 years of age or more on assuming office, must have been a resident of the school district from which the candidate seeks election for thirty (30) days before the general election, and must have no other affidavit on file for any other office at the same primary or next ensuing general election. The affidavits of candidacy must be filed in the office of the school district election clerk and the filing fee paid prior to 5:00 o’clock p.m. on August 13, 2024.
Dated: July 1, 2024 BY ORDER OF THE SCHOOL BOARD
Jody Josephson, School District Election Clerk Published one time in the Quad Community Press on July 9, 2024.
BIRTH JOURNEY: Parents, first responders share story of one miracle after another
FROM PAGE 1
Lino Lakes Police Officer Sam Bergeron was the first on scene. She was assigned on the other side of the city at the time but happened to be close by when the call came in. When she arrived on scene, she was greeted by a family member who told her the baby had already been born. Per dispatch, Bergeron, and the other first responders were expecting the baby was 38 weeks, they quickly found out that was not the case.
Allina Paramedic Josh Parrow said when he arrived on scene, both mom and baby were doing great. “It was nothing that I hadn’t seen before,” Parrow recalled, explaining that he has delivered five babies previously. “I was pretty calm and everything was great until it wasn’t.”
Parrow handed Everett off to one of his Allina trainees and turned his focus to Faith. While tending to Faith he looked over at Everett and knew something was wrong. He could tell Everett wasn’t breathing.
To not alarm the family, he calmly grabbed Everett and started CPR as he was walking to the ambulance. He knew he had to get Everett to the hospital as fast as possible and had to make some important decisions. “I didn’t have my stretcher, my computer … I left everything on scene … If knew if we could just get him there with a pulse, he had a chance. If he lost his pulse, we wouldn’t get him back,” Parrow explained.
Parrow decided to leave his more-experienced EMT behind with Faith while they waited for a second ambulance for her, asked his other trainee to drive the ambulance, while Parrow, Bergeron and Lino Lakes Firefighter Brett McReavy all worked in the back to keep Everett’s pulse. Parrow explained that anytime a child’s heartbeat drops below 60 beats per minute, it is treated as a respiratory arrest. (When babies are born, they typically have a heartbeat around 120-130 beats per minute.)
It is not typical for a cop to hop in the back of an ambulance, but Parrow requested it, and Bergeron knew he needed all the extra hands he could get. Thankfully, there were four other cops on that night who could hold down the fort while she was gone. McReavy was also one of four firefighters that responded to the scene.
All three of the first responders described the scenario as a “roller coaster.” They went into the call thinking it was going to be a happy one, but things quickly began to spiral into what be -
came “controlled chaos.”
“I’ll never forget the happy tone of ‘a baby was just born’ to the downfall of ‘the baby is not breathing.’ Things dramatically changed,” McReavy said. “We went from we are going to help out and do what we got to do to keep baby and mom warm and happy to our Super Bowl (of a call).”
While the ambulance rushed to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, the three strangers worked together to give Everett a chance. Parrow did compressions, while McReavy and Bergeron took turns breathing for him.
McReavy, a father of a soon to be 2-year-old, thought about what he would want in the situation if it were his own child. “I was holding his hand trying to give him some kind of touch and we were talking to him the whole time,” he recalled.
Bergeron added, “We were just trying to keep him going.”
Parrow said their biggest enemy on that call was time. “We didn’t have time,” he said. He explained that babies who are born at the hospital that early often don’t make it, and ambulances are not equipped with the type of equipment needed to keep a baby alive whose lungs are not fully developed yet.
“I’ve been doing this a long time and I have seen a lot,” Parrow said. “There was a point where I didn’t know what else to do. There was nothing I could do, and I had to come to that realization.
I’m not God. We have to understand that in our job.”
The three lifesavers credit Everett for pulling through. Parrow said, “He was fighting for his life. You could literally see him fighting to stay alive.”
McReavy recalled, “I grabbed his little hand, and he gripped my finger and I remember thinking we have got a shot here. He was fighting hard. He wanted it.”
Bergeron said, “He fought and fought. That boy did his part and then some. None of what we did would have worked if he didn’t want it.”
The three ran into the hospital, where a team was ready. “Children’s was phenomenal. They were unreal. They had him intubated in 30 seconds,” Parrow said. As they handed him over to the team of doctors, they said, “Meet Everett.”
The first responders could not believe how calm Faith was. McReavy recalled running into Faith as she was getting out of the ambulance and telling her, “Your little boy is a fighter, and you clearly are too.” He described her as “tough as nails.”
Faith said, “It was probably partially shock, but I just knew that God was taking care of him and that he was going to be okay,” she said.
Hospital stay
When Elliott arrived at the hospital he caught up with Everett. “I remember asking one of the staff that was rushing with him, is he going to be okay? And he goes ‘he’s got this.’ That was that was the most hope that I felt in a situation that had very little,” Elliott said. “That night is a complete blur.”
But that’s where the miracles continued to stack up, one after another. Elliott explained the fact that Everett was “running cold” in the ambulance meant that his organs went into a state of dormancy, meaning they didn’t need as much oxygen. They were hoping he wouldn’t have any organ issues.
Not long after that they discovered that Everett had a brain bleed.
“That was the first moment where I was like what is happening? Where do we go from here,” Faith said.
Everett needed to be on a ventilator for about a week. Eventually he transitioned to a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and then varying levels of oxygen. He was in the NICU for 75 days.
“It was a roller coaster. We would get great news one day and be over the moon and the next it’s another thing,” Elliott recalled. He received a call he got from a doctor one day after Everett had an MRI. “He said, ‘he has a little dimple on is butt’ and I thought how cute is that?” he said. Then the doctor preceded to tell him that could mean that Everett’s spinal cord was wrapped. Thankfully, that was not the case.
“It has been one miracle after another. That’s the only way I can describe it,” Elliott said. “If you believe in luck, there’s too much of it here. It has to be something else.”
Faith was in the NICU all day, every day. Elliott was going back and forth between the NICU and house floor. Faith says some worked when she could, as she owns a business, Christina Lynn Interiors in downtown White Bear Lake, with her mother.
While in the NICU, the couple says they developed some lasting friendships with the nurses and learned so much.
“I was able to sit there and ask questions to the nurses,” Faith explained. Elliott added, “I felt more prepared than I think any first-time parent because I’m used to doing his diapers, I know what formula he’s on, I know what this cry means and that cry means. The health care professionals taught us so much. We met so many amazing people.”
In fact, they just had their primary nurse at their home for dinner the other night and are planning to host a barbeque for all of the first responders who played a part in their miracle this summer.
If any couple should experience a similar situation, Elliott offers some advice. “Recognize that the highs come with the
lows and the lows come with the highs. It’s okay to not know what in the heck’s going on. It’s okay to say I’m powerless in this situation. Trust the process. Know that he is in the best hands. All I could do was pray.”
“That’s what I had to do to get through it,” Elliott continued. “You have to lean on each other because I feel like the stress can get to couples. You make each other stronger. There were days where I was weak, and she had to kind of pick me up … and then there was the opposite. You grow through it.”
Faith says to be sure to ask for help. “You can’t do it alone. And it doesn’t last forever.”
Aftermath
Even though this call had a positive outcome, the incident will forever be engrained in the minds of the first responders involved. The three continue to play the call over and over again in their heads and start to go down the rabbit hole of what ifs.
“As positive of an outcome as it is, it was and will always be traumatizing,” Parrow explained. “We are walking around like zombies. No one has a clue unless they do our jobs. What we’re dealing with, what we have to see and what we have to do on a daily basis … We are in own little bubble and only we understand what we’re really exposed to every day.”
McReavy said, “It’s absolutely been an interesting one to deal with mentally. I’ve had a couple of them like this and this is by far this is the toughest one that I’ve had.”
In addition to finding outlets like going to the gym or fishing, the three have found a new support system in one another as well as their fellow first responders.
“This was this an absolute miracle. This affected all of us in an absolute insane way,” Bergeron said. “I’m never going to forget that day. I still cry about it because I can’t believe that this is something that we experienced. This is an outcome that a lot of calls like this don’t have.”
The three responders who were once strangers, are far from it today. One day, they hope to meet the little miracle. Everett’s name, which means “brave as a wild boar,” couldn’t be more fitting. “He fought for life throughout the entire process form the second that he came out and started crying to even the craziest times in the NICU,” Elliott said. “He just keeps getting stronger and bigger.” Everett no longer needs oxygen support, and he now weighs over 9 lbs and is in the 94th percentile for height and weight.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-407-1227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
It is a miracle that Everett Engen is alive. He was born 12 weeks early and weighed 3 lbs 10 oz.
Faith Engen is happy to be home with her son after a long stay in the NICU.
Summer Academy fosters deeper education for elementary students
BY AMY HOLMBERG PRESS INTERN
Families recently flooded the halls of Rice Lake Elementary School to see the results of two weeks of hard work on display at the Summer Academy parent showcase. The invitation-only program gave Centennial’s rising 3rd through 6th graders showing high potential an opportunity to learn one subject for two weeks.
The academy was designed to give students a chance to study more thoroughly topics they love than possible during the regular school year. It was created after the North Suburban Summer Academy in Columbia Heights closed their doors in 2023 and allows students a continued opportunity to learn concentrated topics, but within the intimate setting of their own school.
This year, students had the option of taking coding, coding and robotics, crime scene science, graphic design/animation, Harry Potter, marine biology, medieval castles and ocean adventures. The curriculum and class subjects were chosen by each teacher.
Kate Zvareck, a mother of two children enrolled this year, says she is impressed by the combination of science, research and art that went into her children’s classwork.
Each class also participated in a field trip geared toward learning their subject matter in a real-world setting. The field trips were a highlight for many of the students in Summer Academy, including Zvareck’s son, Levi. His coding class went to the Bakken Museum, where they learned first-hand uses of advanced code and what level they could reach someday if they continued their coding education.
Students were thrilled to share their work at the parent showcase on the last day of the Rice Lake Elementary School Summer Academy. “They’re really proud of what they’re achieving,” said Lead Administrative Assistant Meg Rineck.
Amy Holmberg is an intern with Press Publications. She can be reached by calling 651-407-1200 or emailing intern2@presspubs.com.
• In an effort to keep up with Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), the council has given the OK for the city to up its treatment budget. The city will increase its contracted services by $50,000; add an additional seasonal employee for four months for a cost of $13,200; and delay the replacement of boulevard trees until funding becomes available. (Currently, tree replacement is generally completed concurrent with removals or the following year.)
Community Development Director Michael Grochala explained that the city has been proactive in preparing for EAB by completing a plan in early 2010 and beginning a methodical annual ash tree treatment and removal process. He said tree removals due to EAB have
significantly increased as the infestation has reached its peak.
“It has strained our ability to keep up with problem trees,” he said.
• City staff will pursue grant opportunities for a water quality improvement project at Shenandoah Park. The council authorized a partnership with the Rice Creek Watershed District (RCWD) to identify potential water quality improvements to reduce volume and sediment/nutrient loading to Rice Lake in 2022. Grochala explained that Rice Lake is designated by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) as an impaired water. The study evaluated potential improvements to Shenandoah Park.
The feasibility report included four alternatives, two of which the Environmental Board recommended for future consideration. Each of the concepts provides water quality and volume improvements, ecological restoration and floodplain mitigation. Options for future trail connections were also evaluated.
Depending on the alternative, the cost for the project could range from $250,000 to $500,000. The preparation of plans and specifications for the project is also estimated to cost $55,000.
• The RCWD and Vadnais Lake Area Management Organization (VLAMO) are proposing to make some changes to jurisdictional boundaries. Grochala explained the two watershed districts went through a hydrologic boundary review in 2022 and identified boundary discrepancies in need of modification. A total of 38 parcels, three of which are owned by the city of Lino Lakes, will be affected by the boundary adjustments. Twelve parcels will switch from RCWD to VLAWMO and the balance will revert to RCWD jurisdiction.
State law requires that RCWD submit and petition for the change to the Board of Water and Soil Resources (BWSR). The petition must be accompanied by letters of concurrence from the individual local units of government. RCWD has requested a letter of concurrence by Aug. 9. Public notice of the proposed boundary adjustment is provided by BWSR upon receipt of the petition from RCWD. City staff has requested additional information on the notification process.
Shannon Granholm
CONTRIBUTED
A group of students and their mentors pose with a robot at the Summer Academy.
LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL SNIPPETS
CONTRIBUTED
The city is currently seeking grant opportunities to pursue a wetland improvement project at Shenandoah Park.