The Citizen

BURDES:

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

Imagine getting a phone call from your child in tears who tells you their bank account is empty.

That’s exactly what happened to Hugo resident Lisa Hippe. But it wasn’t just her daughter Jasmine’s account. The accounts that belonged to her and her husband Ted were also drained — to the tune of over $40,000.

“The reality of ‘Oh my God. What did I just do?’” hit,” Hippe said. “I hate this. It’s never going to leave me.”

Hippe received a text message asking her if she had recently charged something. She responded “no” to that text and was subsequently contacted by someone claiming to be a part of

Scam victim, detective share tips to protect others

Changes likely coming to street parking

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

HUGO — The City Council will consider changing its parking ordinance April 7.

The Planning Commission is recommending the council amend its “prohibited parking” section of the city code.

“Over the past several years, the city has received a few complaints detailing trailers, more specifically boats, being stored on city streets for the longer term,” said Associate Planner Max Gort. “The ordinance language does cover a lot of that, but it is not super explicit in preventing long-term storage of items on the street, so the city has had some difficulty enforcing that part of the ordinance.”

a Huntington Bank fraud alert investigation team, working with the FBI. The person told her that they were investigating bank employees at local branches for transferring money out of customers’ accounts.

“He told me that my accounts had been compromised,” Hippe explained. He told her that he could see wire transfers were set up to transfer her money out of her accounts. To protect her money, she was advised to withdraw all of the money from her account and to put it on a “safe” Chase card that the scammer loaded onto her phone.

The scammer told her that there was a $20,000 withdrawal limit, so Hippe headed to Maplewood and subsequently White Bear Lake.

“I was in front of the bank, and

I was freaking out, but he told me there was an undercover cop inside the bank, so I was safe,”

“He was playing on my fear. That’s what got me going first was the fear that somebody was going to take all of my money,”

Lisa Hippe Hugo Resident

she recalled. “He made me feel comfortable … I was not thinking about a scam. It was not even in my realm.”

Hippe said she was convinced it was legit because the person knew all her account numbers. “He was playing on my fear. That’s what got me going first was the fear that somebody was going to take all of my money,” she said.

She said another convincing factor was that he was able to load the “safe” card onto her phone.

She realized it was a scam when Jasmine called her and called the sheriff’s office right away.

“I told them this is what hapSEE SCAM, PAGE 7

City code currently restricts the time that vehicles and trailers may be parked on any city street to 72 hours (outside of the winter parking restrictions).

Gort explained that when the city has sent a

SEE PARKING ORDINANCE, PAGE 2

Solar farm ordinance updates head to City Council

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

HUGO — The City Council may approve amendments to the city’s solar farm ordinance next week.

Since last September, the Ordinance Review Committee (ORC) has been working on possible text amendments to the city’s solar farm ordinance.

“As far as the ordinance itself (goes), I think we need to put this to bed,” said Planning Commission Member Phil Klein. “Let’s try this, see how it goes. We can always change this if we have to in the future.”

The ORC is recommending several revisions to the ordinance to address the impact of solar farms on neighboring properties. Revisions include:

• Increasing the minimum lot size for solar farms from 10 acres to 20 acres.

SEE SOLAR ORDINANCE, PAGE 8

We Do the Heavy Lifting for You!

PARKING ORDINANCE: Planning Commission

notice to trailer owners, the response has been to move the trailer a “small distance” on that same street.

“When trailers are being stored on city streets, it does create quite a disruption, not only to the flow of traffic but also maintenance operations like street sweeping,” he said. “There are some cases where trailers stored on the streets have caused damage to the city streets.”

Under the revised language, vehicles will still be permitted to be parked on the street for up to 72 hours (outside of winter months). However, trailers will only be permitted to park on city streets for up to 24 hours during a seven-day period. “(that will allow for) a little bit of time for loading/unloading,” Gort noted.

The revised language would also

state that “a trailer parked on public streets must be moved at least 0.3 miles within the seven-day period.”

Planning Commission Member Cindy Petty wondered how that 0.3 miles would be measured and if it would just encourage people to move their trailers in front of their neighbors’ homes. Gort explained that it would likely be measured linearly but hadn’t been discussed by staff at length. “We might need to address that as that situation arises,” he said.

Community Development Director Rachel Juba said city staff could further clarify that with the city attorney.

Planning Commission Member Phil Klein said he had the same concern.

“Individuals at times are going to try to take advantage of this ordinance, and we have seen some of that already here

and how that is playing out.”

Planning Commission Chair Bronwen Kleissler wanted to know how it would be enforced. Gort explained that currently, once a formal complaint is received by a resident, a city staff member will go to the location to do an inspection, including taking pictures that are date stamped. After 72 hours, city staff return to see if the vehicle or trailer is still in violation. If it is, a letter is sent to the resident informing them of the violation.

“Under this new ordinance, we would likely be doing it in a very similar way; however, that time limit is dropped down to 24 hours (for vehicles),” Gort detailed.

Currently, if a resident receives two parking violations within 30 days, they are subject to a citation or a tow, which

Gort says, usually depends on how the sheriff’s office wants to handle it. Kleissler also wanted to know how residents would be informed of the changes, should the council approve them. Juba explained the draft ordinance was published in the paper, the adopted ordinance would also be published in the paper, and information would be included on the city’s website. The change could also be noted in an upcoming city newsletter.

To see the draft ordinance in its entirety, visit www.ci.hugo.mn.us.

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

WHAT’S HAPPENING

Kidz N Biz

When: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 12

Where: Oneka Elementary, Hugo

Details: Local businesses owners and the Hugo Area Business Association host community fair with vendors, games, and activities geared to kids and families.

Contact: hugobusinesses.biz

ONGOING EVENTS

HUGO SENIOR CLUB

When: 1 p.m. Monday, April 21; the 3rd Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N. Details: Monthly meeting includes planning for future activities, followed by afternoon of games. Coffee and refreshments served.

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

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, April 3 & 17; 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

ST. JOHN’S MEN’S CLUB FISH FRY

When: 4:30 -7:30 p.m. Fridays, through April 11

Where: Church of St. Genevieve, 14383 Forest Blvd. N., Hugo Contact: stgens.org/mens-club

CENTERVILLE TIDBITS

• As promised, the Centerville City Council conducted a public hearing to gather input from the public concerning the 2025 thin mill and overlay project. After a handful of property owners took to the podium to ask a few questions, council unanimously (with Council Member Darrin Mosher attending remotely) adopted a resolution approving plans and ordering advertisement for bids.

This project will cover 2 miles of roadwork and be similar to the previous five projects in the thin overlay program started in 2014 to replace the annual sealcoating projects. Improvements will encompasses the following streets: LaMotte Drive to the west city limits; Heritage Street from Centerville Road to LaMotte Drive; Center Street from Centerville Road, east to Dupre Road; Dupre Road from 200 feet south of Center Street to 200 feet north of Center Street; all of Tourville Circle; all of Oak Circle; Pheasant Lane from Center Street to 280 feet north of Partridge Place; Brian Drive south of Main Street to 130 feet north of Brian Court; all of Peltier Circle; Old Mill Road from city limits to 320 feet north of Revoir Street and Shad Avenue from Main Street North to Fox Run.

CURRENT EVENTS

FAMILY ACTIVITY DAY

When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, April 5

Where: South Shore Trinity Lutheran Church, 2480 S. Shore Blvd., White Bear Lake

Details: Model car display and make-and-take, model train display by train museum, cupcake decorating, quilt display by the quilt group, light refreshments. Contact: sstwbl.org

BEAUTIFUL VISION: THE ESSENTIAL SONGS OF VAN MORRISON

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, April 5

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, White Bear Lake

Details: Mick Sterling leads a tribute concert featuring the hits of Van Morrison. Ticket information online. Contact: lakeshoreplayers.org

COMEDY SHOW

When: 6:30 & 9 p.m. Saturday, April 5

Where: Running Aces, 15201 Running Aces Blvd., Forest Lake

Details: Headliner Amber Preston featuring Brendan Gay. Ticket information online. Contact: runaces.com

AMERICAN LEGION POST 507 AND AUXILIARY 100TH

BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

When: 2-5 p.m. Sunday, April 6

Where: Dugout, 96 Mahtomedi Avenue

Details: Community is invited to a free open house with food, door prizes, memorabilia, and more in honor of th 100th birthday of Kramer-Berg American Legion Post 507 and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 507/

Contact: facebook.com/people/American-Legion-Unit507-Auxiliary

MONROE CROSSING

When: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6

Where: Hanifl Performing Arts Center, White Bear Lake

Details: Performance is a blend of bluegrass: classic, gospel, and original and other selections. Ticket information online.

Contact: lakeshoreplayers.org

ST. PAUL HIKING CLUB

When: 2:30 p.m. Sunday, April 6

Where: Vadnais-Sucker Lakes Recreational Area, 25 County Rd. F, Vadnais Heights

Details: Hike paved trails through the park, approx. 5 miles.

Contact: stpaulhike.com

MISSISSIPPI VALLEY ORCHESTRA

When: 3 p.m. Sunday, April 6

Where: Benson Great Hall, Bethel University

Details: Requiem features Chorus Polaris and the Westwood Lutheran Church Choir. Free will donation.

LUTHER COLLEGE SPRING CONCERT

When: 4 p.m. Sunday, April 6

Where: St. Andrews Lutheran Church, 900 Stillwater Rd., Mahtomedi

Details: Luther College music ensembles, including,

The city’s cost for the project is estimated to be $636,697 using money from the Street Capital Fund. Assessments to benefitting property owner are estimated to be $138,689. Construction is expected to start this summer and be completed this fall, said Project Engineer Kellie Schlegel of Stantec.

• Centerville residents will be able to use some of the $41,000 in grant money the city received from the Metropolitan Council to clean up damaged pipelines from their sewer lines that have allowed improper discharge into the sanitary sewer system and into the Metropolitan Council’s treatment facilities. Following a public hearing at which no members of the public spoke, council unanimously passed a resolution adopting the Inflow and infiltration program guidelines, with a few modifications in language. Houses that are 25 years old or older will be eligible to receive a grant that covers 75% of their eligible costs, with a maximum grant of $7,500 for a $10,000 project. Younger houses will be eligible to receive 50% of eligible costs up to a maximum grant of $5,000 for a $10,000 project. Work must be done before Dec. 31.

• The city has a new member of the

the Nordic Choir and Symphony Orchestra, perform Mozart’s Requiem in D minor. Purchase tickets online.

Contact: tickets.luther.edu

MOVIN’ & GROOVIN’

When: 9-10:30 a.m. Monday, April 7

Where: Normandy Park Education Center, 2482 County Rd. F E, White Bear Lake

Details: Join White Bear Lake Early Childhood program for a morning of movement, play and music. For children birth- age 3.

Contact: 651-653-3100 or bit.ly/2SQQPUs

A MATTER OF BALANCE

When: 1-3 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays, April 7-30

Where: Lyngblomsten at Lino Lakes, 6070 Blanchard Blvd.

Details: Falls prevention program to learn ways to reduce risk of falling and learn exercises to increase strength, balance and flexibility. Register by April 1. Contact: 651-632-5330 or lyngblomsten.org/ community-services/wellness-education

FUTURES IN BLOOM

When: 7:15 a.m. Thursday, April 10

Where: Century College East Campus, Lincoln Mall, 3300 Century Ave. N., White Bear Lake

Details: Annual fundraising event includes breakfast, student testimonials, and Century’s dental clinic expansion. RSVP. Contact: century.edu/giving/futures-in-bloom-2025

HAZARDOUS WASTE 101

When: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 10

Where: Hardwood Creek Library, Forest Lake

Details: Learn the basics of hazardous waste management, including identification, safe handling, and disposal methods, folowed by a tour of the North Environmental Center. No waste accepted during event.

Contact: washcolib.org

ZEPHYR GALA

When: 5 p.m. Friday, April 11

Where: JX Event Venue, Stillwater

Details: Annual fundraising event for the Mahtomedi Area Educational Foundation includes cocktail hour, dinner, program, live auction, and fund-a-need benefitting the elementary school playgrounds. Purchase tickets by March 31.

Contact: maefgives.org

ROCKIN’ HOLLYWOODS

When: 4 to 8 p.m. Saturday, April 12

Where: Hugo American Legion, 5383 140th St N.

Details: Bring your family and friends for a night of dancing with The Rockin’ Hollywoods. Full menu available. Purchase tickets in advance at the Legion, at the door, or online at https://tinyurl.com/2se4yyd2. Contact: 651) 255-1432 or post620hugo@gmail.com

LAKESHORE QUILTERS GUILD SATURDAY SEW-IN

When: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, April 12

Where: Shoreview Library, 4560 Victoria St. N. Details: Members will work on their quilting projects; all are welcome to stop by and see what they are working on.

Contact:  lakeshorequiltersmn.org

Economic Development Authority (EDA), after appointing Lloyd Drilling. Drilling lived in Centerville for 10 years and owned a business in Centerville for 25 years. He currently resides in Lino Lakes. The EDA voted to recommend that council appoint him to the board. Drilling was a member of the Planning and Zoning Commission from 1995 to 2002. Drilling emphasized that he would be familiar with the city’s tax structure, TIF financing and zoning laws and how they all impact the growth of a city.

• The Minnesota Legislature has revisited its plan to transfer zoning authority away from cities, and cities are again writing letters outlining their objections to this idea. At the recommendation of the League of Minnesota Cities, Centerville unanimously approved a letter of support for Retention of City Zoning Authority.

• The city is well into its campaign to find a city administrator to replace Mark Statz who took a position with the city of Forest Lake. Linda Woulfe of the search firm GMP appeared before council to talk about the salary range the city would offer candidates, as well as the job description to be posted and schedule of interviews.

The city will post the job description Woulfe presented, as well as a salary range of $110,000 to $140,000 per year. Woulfe said she would launch the job profile on March 28, and conduct the first interview of the applicants on April 27. By May 1 or 2, the most promising candidates would be interviewed, and a work session would be created with the Personnel Committee, composed of City Attorney Kurt Glaser, Mayor Nancy Golden and Council Member Anita Rios.

Woulfe will meet with the Personnel Committee on May 17 to select semi-finalists for council to interview, before which background and reference checks will be conducted. By that time, it would be up to council to schedule an interview date during the week of June 10-12 and interview the final four or five candidates. Glaser said that the interview with the entire council present must be open to the public.

The council next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 9, at City Hall, 1880 Main Street.

Loretta Harding

Save the little libraries

My mom loves to read. If you have ever been in one of her book clubs or Bible studies you know her happy place is basking in the warm sun reading a never ending supply of books. Similarly, my wife can tune out anything going on around her when she's reading a good book. I'm guessing in both cases, reading has also been a way to pass the time on the sleepless nights while waiting up for teenagers to get home.

Growing up, a trip to the library required an extensive search of the card catalog to locate just the right book. Local libraries have since evolved not only as a place to check out books with a lot less hassle, but also as centers for free community programs and events. The community recently celebrated 40 years of service by White Bear Lake Library's Branch Manager Therese Sonnek. Therese has surely seen changes to the library in that time. Like the newspaper business, local libraries have had to make adjustments to meet the needs of today's readers, but continue to be as relevant as they always have been. Congratulations and thank you, Therese.

Recently we have been hearing more debate about what books are appropriate to have in school and community libraries. A couple of years ago we had a story in the paper about library books containing certain topics being hidden in the White Bear Lake Library. Now we are seeing books-all of the books-being taken from the little libraries around our neighborhoods. It’s disheartening to read about little libraries being wiped out. Are they taking books because they’re upset about the content? Are people robbing these little libraries to resell books and make money? When my parents downsized and we moved all the stuff out of their house there were tons of books, and I have to admit I scanned a bunch of them to see if they were worth anything. A majority of them were valued around a dollar, which means we might have gotten a few cents per book if we wanted to go through the rigamarole of reselling them to a second hand bookstore. We ended up taking a couple of truck loads of books to donate to the Ramsey County Library in Roseville, where they could be sold at an annual Friends of the Library used book sale.

People do love the little libraries. In my neighborhood, I have seen people of all ages stopping to donate a book or check out the inventory. I think some even have games and puzzles. I'm not sure what the solution is to keep the little libraries stocked. Putting up cameras, getting fingerprint readers, or requiring membership to participate in trading books seems extreme. One neighbor recommended writing “Little Library” on the book. I just hope those who may be clearing out the little libraries would understand how much joy and free entertainment they bring to many of our neighbors.

Big Ben memories

Grabbing a bite to eat at a local restaurant, I ran into Ruth Cochran. The Cochrans were well-known for being the owners of the restaurant Big Ben’s in White Bear Lake in the 80s, at the location that is now Beartown. Ruth told me the story of how her family with 11 kids was written up in the paper because they had accidentally left one of the kids at a gas station. A person who was at the gas station offered to drive her sibling home, pulling in right after the rest of the family who hadn’t realized she was missing.

When I think of Big Ben’s, I remember that it was an institution in our community one that bring memories of first jobs or family celebrations.

Carter Johnson is publisher of Press Publications.

ILet me introduce myself

want to introduce myself; my name is Nancy Golden, and I am the newly elected mayor of Centerville. Shortly after my husband and I were married in 1998, we built our home in Centerville. We raised our three children here. We were drawn to Centerville for its small-town charm while still being close to the metro. I love that while walking and biking on our trails, you feel miles away from "The Cities."

Movers

& Shakers

Nancy Golden

Our council is settling into their new roles and will hold a retreat at the end of April to discuss their vision for the residents of Centerville. The city is currently in the process of selecting its next city administrator, and we anticipate making a hire by the end of summer. Athanasia Lewis is serving as Interim-City Administrator. She has been with the city for over three years and brings a wealth of prior experience.

While there have been council changes, our City Staff and Public Works team remain committed and strong. You may be surprised to learn that our team boasts a

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combined total of over 76 years of experience.

We have several events lined up for you this summer.

Fête des Lacs (French for “Festival of Lakes”) will celebrate its 34th anniversary this summer. This is a week-long community event that will run from July 15 to 20. It honors Centerville's history and capitalizes on the beautiful parks, lakes, and trails that surround us. Fete des Lacs offers something for everyone. The week is full of games and activities for kids. There is also a parade, live music, fireworks, sporting events, a car show, a paddleboard race, and much more. To learn more about the event schedule, visit http://fetedeslacs.org/.

Main Street Market and the Bald Eagle Waterski show will also return this summer. These events are on Thursday evening. Please visit both the old and new vendors and stay for the fantastic water ski show. To learn more about these events, visithttps://www. exploreminnesota.com/event/centerville-main-street-market-waterski-show/35391.

We have many projects this year.

We received a grant from the University of Minnesota to support the development of a renewed vision for our community. This grant will enable us to enhance our citi-

THE CITIZEN | LETTER GUIDELINES

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zen engagement efforts in support of our planning initiatives as we approach the 2050 Comprehensive Plan Update.

This summer will present an opportunity for us to complete our thin mill overlay for 2 miles of residential streets. The improvements include a 1-inch bituminous mill and overlay, replacement of the damaged curb, and repair of structural issues in the project area.

We also received a grant from the MET Council to provide financial assistance to property owners with the removal of Inflow and Infiltration from the regional interceptor through repairs of the sewer lateral or foundation drain. The details for this program will be published on the city’s website next week, and we will post information and updates on this program on our city website.

Our Park and Recreation committee is reviewing park and playground equipment; stay tuned for further updates.

Finally, I would like our residents to know that we are here to listen to you. Please reach out to me, council members, or city staff to learn more about how you can be more informed or engaged in our beautiful community.

Nancy Golden is the mayor of Centerville.

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Publisher’s View

Carter Johnson

Stand up to Trump

As my concern rises over Trump’s chaotic dismantling of our government, I am relying on the judiciary to contain the damage. This is true in public education, resource use, science and research, public health, constitutional rights and many other issues.

If Congress won’t step up to take action to stop Trump’s wholesale attack on our democracy, our way of life and our ability to pursue the American Dream, then it is up to the judiciary to act. I am now concerned that Trump is threatening the judiciary. Yes, every president has been unhappy with judicial decisions that block their agenda, but MAGAs, conservatives and Republicans, including Representative Stauber, are fostering a greater environment of violence against the judiciary, if not directly, then by their silence. Trump claims the judiciary is weaponized against him when, as we all know, Trump himself has been and continues be the greatest threat to our system of government since, well, forever. I would ask Rep. Stauber to act in Congress or at least voice his concerns about Trump’s unconstitutional power grabs and threats to our judicial branch of government. Our Constitution was set up to not allow for kings. It’s past time for Congress to put on their big boy pants and stand up to Trump.

Will Perry Hugo

Snowy is a sweet, affectionate and curious young lady who likes to soak up the sun and explore her surroundings. She is a 2-year-old Chihuahua/ Jack Russell terrier mix and weighs about 16 pounds. Snowy is social with other dogs and she would do well in a home as an addition with another social and welcoming dog. However, Snowy would not do well in a home with cats. Snowy is house-trained and crate-trained. She is cautious with new people, but once she gets to know them and become comfortable, she will be a forever friend and companion.

Snowy knows her basic commands and is treat-motivated to learn more. She enjoys going on walks and she loves to play.

Snowy arrived at Ruff Start Rescue from Texas as part of the Lone Star to North Star Program. Snowy has velvety soft fur and a heart-shaped marking on her head. She is certain to bring joy to her new forever family. If you are interested in learning more about Snowy or adopting her, please fill out an application at www. ruffstartrescue.org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.

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The 2024 Burger Night Sponsor of the Year is Oneka Ridge Golf Course. The business, which has received the award five times, served up 252 burger meals in 2024.

• The Hero Gravel Classic Bike Ride is scheduled for Aug. 23. The 50-mile bicycle ride on gravel and paved roads begins and ends at the Bavarian Hunter Gasthaus Restaurant in Stillwater. Up to 300 bicyclists are expected to participate.

• The Hugo Fire Department will purchase a Taylor’d Series 12 Training Prop from Taylor’d Systems LLC for $61,800, which will be paid for using funds from the city’s fire relief association. The Series 12 Prop is a solution for departments with limited on-site space for training purposes. Designed to fit snugly into a standard parking spot, the unit boasts over 10 training apparatuses.

The Hugo Fire Relief Association recently presented a check of $40,000 to the city of Hugo to purchase a training prop. Most of the funds raised came from the association’s annual golf fundraiser. Pictured are Fire Relief President Dave Jensen and Fire Chief Jim Compton Jr.

CALENDAR BRIEFS

Participate in the EGGstravaganza Hunt at The Rookery

The Rookery Activity Center will hold an egg hunt from 6-8 p.m. Friday, April 11. Children will collect as many eggs as possible in the Rookery’s gym and

• The Public Works Department will purchase a Ferris zero turn mower with an EZ dump hopper for maintenance of the city’s expanding parks and public facilities. The mower will be purchased through the MnDOT Cooperative Purchasing Venture for $22,857.

• The Hugo Fire Department has 16 structure fire jackets, 21 structure fire pants, 29 sets of wildland gear (coats and pants), 15 helmets and 19 pairs of structure fire boots that no longer meet industry standards for fire departments in the United States and thus have no resale value. National Fire Protection Agency standards require the gear to be retired. The department plans to donate the expired gear to a nonprofit that sends it to impoverished countries around the world.

• An encroachment agreement is now in place with Kelly and Abraao Franco to allow construction of a fence within a drainage and utility easement at 16168 Empress Avenue North. The city’s senior engineering technician reviewed the location of the fence and is comfortable with the request.

• A cooperative construction agreement is now in place between the city, MnDOT and Washington County. The county applied for and has received local partnership program funds from MnDOT for improvements to Trunk Highway 61 from 140th Street N. (County State Aid Highway 8) to Frenchman Road (County State Aid Highway 8).

aquatic center while searching for the golden egg. If you find the golden egg, you get a special prize.

The project includes grading, bituminous mill and surfacing, drainage improvements, ADA improvements and signal revisions. The project also includes minor widening and improvements to the signal and turn lane operations. The city costs are related to signal modifications on the local legs of the intersection, minor adjustments to watermain gate valve boxes, and repainting the signal systems.

The total project cost is estimated to be $1,404,542; the city of Hugo is responsible for $47,589.

• Capstone Homes has submitted a sketch plan to the city for review by the various commissions before moving forward with a formal application. Capstone Homes is proposing to develop approximately 38 acres (8 acres of wetlands) on the Munger property, located west of Highway 61 and south of 165th Street. Capstone Homes Land Project Manager Tom Bakritges said he hopes the project will receive all the necessary approvals in 2025 so construction can begin in 2026.

• A reminder that Kidz ‘n Biz is scheduled for 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 12, at Oneka Elementary. The event will include face painting, balloon animals, bouncy houses, raffle prizes, stage performers and a visit from the Hugo Fire Department.

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

Shannon Granholm

and can be done so at tinyurl.com/2fwru3hj. The Rookery is located at 7690 Village Drive, Lino Lakes.

Centennial Area Chamber hosts

Lunch & Learn

CHURCH DIRECTORY

Attendees are encouraged to bring their swimming gear to swim. All children will receive a prize bag. The event is suitable for children ages 1 through 7. They must be accompanied by an adult. Registration is required

CHURCH DIRECTORY

The Centennial Area Chamber will host a Lunch & Learn event from 12:30-1:30 p.m.

Thursday, April 17, at the Centennial Library, 100 Civic Heights Circle, Circle Pines. Nickie Welsh, technology trainer and founder of Social Club Simple, will provide practical, real-world technology training. Registration is required. To register and learn more information, go to

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

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

PHOTOS BY SHANNON GRANHOLM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS

Businesses that sponsored Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network’s Burger Nights in 2024 were recently recognized at a City Council meeting.

COPS&COURTS

HUGO POLICE REPORTS

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following calls for service:

• Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) deputies at 4:34 a.m. Feb. 21 cited a motorist on Frenchman Road and Everton Avenue N. for equipment violation, following a traffic stop for a missing headlight.

Deputies had stopped this same motorist one week prior for the same offense and had issued a verbal warning to get the headlight fixed. Now, it’s a citation for not using the week of grace to make the most of a second chance.

• Following a shoplifting report in the 5000 block of 140th Street, a citation for misdemeanor theft was mailed at 11:05 a.m. Feb. 21.

• A motorist was cited at 3:56 p.m. Feb. 21 on Forest Blvd. N. and 130th Street N. for passing another vehicle in a turn lane, right in front of signs specifically prohibiting passing in the turn lane.

• The registered owners of an illegally parked vehicle called at 5:40 p.m. Feb. 21 to complain about their vehicle being towed from the 15000 block of Forest Blvd. N.

The complainant was provided notice the day

PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEFS

Man sentenced in Forest Lake murder case

before by the property owners so that they could remove snow.

And yet, the vehicle was not removed and remained completely covered with snow.

• A motorist was arrested for driving after revocation at 6:41 p.m. Feb. 21 on 130th Street N. and Europa Trail N. and for refusal to comply with officers after deputies tried to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle. When deputies turned on their flashing lights, the motorist would not stop until finally pulling into a driveway. During the stop, the driver refused to comply with deputies’ instructions.

• A suspicious male reported at 3:14 p.m. Feb. 22 in the 15000 block of Glenbrook Avenue N. turned out to be a man trying to pull a tree down with a vehicle.

• Deputies cited a motorist at 4:00 p.m. Feb. 22 on Frenchman Road and Everton Avenue N. for violating the Ted Foss Move Over Law. The driver failed to move over for other WCSO vehicles on a traffic stop.

• A stop sign runner was cited at the stroke of midnight Feb. 23 in the 4000 block of Rosemary Way N. for failure to stop at the traffic control device.

• At 12:05 a.m. Feb. 23 deputies were dispatched out to a residence in the 14000 block of Francesca Avenue N. on a report of texts received from

A North Branch man has been sentenced to over 19 years in prison for a murder committed in Forest Lake.

Dylan Robert Simmons, 21, was charged with second-degree felony murder, criminal vehicular homicide and three counts of second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon for driving his vehicle into a crowd at Lakeside Memorial Park in Forest Lake, running over and killing 17-year-old Darisha Bailey Vath. Simmons was found not guilty of the charge of second-degree intentional murder.

Simmons’ sentence stands at 234 months in prison for the second-degree murder charge and 25, 32 and 46 months on the three counts of seconddegree assault. Each of his sentences is to be served concurrently, with credit for 614 days served. Simmons has also been ordered to pay a $500 fine. Judge Siv Mjanger left the issue of restitution open for 90 days. Simmons remains in custody at the Washington County Jail, awaiting transfer to the Minnesota Department of Corrections.

5 charged thanks to human trafficking task force

Five people are facing felony charges following their arrests for attempting to solicit minors for sex. Investigators from the East Metro Human Trafficking Task Force (EMHTTF), Cottage Grove Police Department and Forest Lake Police Department conducted an operation on March 20 in Newport.

During the operation, suspects chatted on several social media platforms with undercover agents posing as minors. Investigators arrested the

COMMUNITY BRIEFS

Books needed for sale

The Waters Edge community is organizing a book sale on May 10. All proceeds will go to the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf. Drop off your used books at the collection bin at the Waters Edge Community Center until May 9. Whatever doesn’t get sold at the sale will be donated. For more information, call 651-788-7874.

an unknown number that also sent pictures of guns and marijuana. The text also contained a message saying, “I’m on the way.” Deputies advised the complainants to lock their door and to report any suspicious activity.

• Deputies conducted five traffic stops early Feb. 23, the first at 3:09 a.m. on Victor Hugo Blvd. N. and Rosemary Way N. for no front license plate and tabs on the rear plate that expired in April 2023. At 6 a.m., a motorist was cited on Forest Blvd. N. and Frenchman Road for speeding 60 mph in a 50 mph zone. At 6:43 a.m. another motorist was cited in the 5000 block of Egg Lake Road N. for speeding 52 mph in a posted 35 mph residential zone. The next two motorists were cited for undisclosed violations at 11:26 a.m. on Frenchman Road and Everton Avenue and at 1:08 p.m. in the 7600 block of 170th Street N.

• Deputies were called out to an urgent vehicle unlock in the 17000 block of Henna Avenue at 5:07 p.m. Feb. 23, after the complainant’s dog hit the car’s lock button while everyone but the dog was outside of the car.

• A motorist was issued an on-scene citation at 5:49 p.m. Feb. 23 on 148th Street N. and Forest Blvd. N. for excessive speeding in the city’s residential district.

• Deputies conducted a traffic stop on a “heavily expired license plate” at 9:32 p.m. Feb. 23 on Heritage Parkway N. and Elmcrest Avenue N.

suspects as they arrived at an arranged meeting place for an encounter. Suspects were booked into the Washington County jail. All have been charged or will be charged in the coming days.

Washington County Sheriff Dan Starry said, “We are dedicated, along with our local law enforcement partners, to combat sex and human trafficking within our communities. We do this by vigorously investigating and charging those who exploit juveniles and adults in Washington County.”

“We continue to appreciate the partnership between the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and the Washington County Attorney’s Office in the fight against human trafficking. Operations such as these protect our most vulnerable citizens and let the community know that this criminal behavior is not tolerated,” said Washington County Attorney Kevin Magnuson.

If you or someone you know is in immediate danger of being trafficked, call 911. To report a suspected trafficking situation, call the EMHTTF at 651-430-7825. Victims can get help by calling the National Human Trafficking Hotline at 888-373-7888 or send the text HELP to 233733.

Spring burning restrictions in place

The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is restricting the burning of vegetative debris due to increased wildfire risk from dry conditions in central Minnesota. The restrictions will apply to Anoka, Benton, Chisago, Hennepin, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Morrison, Pine, Ramsey, Sherburne, Stearns, Todd, Washington and Wright counties. The DNR will not issue permits for open brush or yard waste in these counties until restrictions have been lifted. DNR Wildlife Prevention Specialist Karen Harrison is

‘Hugo’s

got Talent’ returns for 2nd year

Hugo’s Got Talent is scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. Sunday, June 8, at the Peder Pedersen Pavilion Stage in Lions Volunteer Park during the annual Good Neighbor Days celebration. Can you juggle, sing, dance, or do magic tricks? Do you have a pet that does tricks? Any

The registered owner had not yet swapped out their old license plate for their shiny new, current license plate. Although the current, lawful license plate was at hand, the driver still displayed the old license plate.

• Another agency at 11:10 p.m. Feb. 23 reported recovering a washed check during a traffic stop in the 6000 block of 151st Street Court N. The two agencies will team up for the investigation.

• The two combatants of a fight were each issued their own citation at 11:23 p.m. Feb. 23 in the 15000 block of French Drive N. after one of them reported being assaulted by the other. When deputies spoke to the parties, they each gave different accounts of the incident and blamed the other for starting it. Both parties wanted the other charged, but both received citations instead.

• A citizen phoned the WCSO from the 6000 block of 150th Street N. at 2:16 p.m. Feb. 24 to inquire about crime in the area, as he was to be moving to the area soon. Deputies advised the caller. It is unknown whether the current week’s reports from The Citizen were used as reference material.

Loretta Harding

encouraging county residents to use alternatives to dispose yard waste. These include composting, chipping or taking brush to a collection site. Burning restrictions will be adjusted as conditions change. For daily updates on fire risk and burning restrictions, visit the statewide fire danger and burning restrictions page of the DNR website at www.mndnr.gov/burnrestrictions. For more information on composting for woodland owners, visit www.dnr.state.mn.us/wildfire/ prevention/debris-composting.html

White Bear Lake man charged in killing pedestrian

Christopher Ronald Olson, 46, of White Bear Lake is facing three several counts of criminal vehicular homicide after he allegedly fled the scene of a crash in White Bear Township March 27.

Police responded to Birch Lake Boulevard North and White Bear Lake Parkway at 4:22 p.m. Witnesses reported that the woman was walking in crosswalk when the driver, later identified as Olson, drove through the intersection and hit her. The woman was reportedly sent flying 30 yards before hitting the pavement. She died at the scene.

According to the charges, Olson left the scene of the accident, but a short time later arrived at the White Bear Police Department where he acknowledged that he struck the woman with his car.

Olson registered a blood alcohol concentration of 0.154 in a preliminary breath test, and a level of 0.08 in a second test around four hours after the crash.  Olson has two prior DWI convictions. Olson’s next court appearance is April 17.

age or talent is allowed, and the contest is open to individuals or groups. The only requirement is that performers have a Hugo connection. Sign up online at www.goodneighbordays.com/ talent-showcase. For questions, contact tbl222@aol.com.

Centennial Youth Cheerleaders make Easter fun

This Easter, Centennial Youth Cheerleaders are looking to Egg Your House. Cheerleaders will hide candyfilled eggs in your yard the night before Easter on Saturday, April 19. Residents who live in the cities of Lino Lakes, Blaine, Circle Pines, Lexington and Centerville are eligible. Sign up online at tinyurl. com/29666tbx before April 15.

SCAM: A woman’s fight to raise awareness after devastating bank scam

FROM PAGE 1

pened, and I want you to meet me at the bank tomorrow so I can get my money out of the ATM, and he said, ‘I’m sorry, but that money is no longer yours, it’s gone.’ That broke me.”

Hippe is retired and Ted is hoping to retire soon, too. “We work all our whole lives to support ourselves and our families ... We are looking at him being retired sooner than later, paying our house off and being in a good spot, and now we have to start from zero again,” she said.

“I don’t want to go anywhere. I don’t want to buy anything online … I’m freaked out about paying my bills. I’m not comfortable,” she explained.

Perhaps a positive is that Hippe has learned a lot through this process about scams, what to watch out for and how to protect herself and her family going forward. She offers the following tips:

• Stay vigilant on your accounts and check them weekly.

• Change your passwords frequently and don’t use repeat passwords.

• Check your credit reports.

• Check your homeowner’s insurance to see if it offers identity theft protection.

• Be aware of what is going on in the news.

“I just want to bring awareness,” she said “I want people to be aware of what is going on out there … It is happening to too many people, and it breaks my heart.”

Press Publications reached out to Hippe’s bank. “While we cannot comment on specific customer accounts, we take allegations of fraud seriously and conduct a thorough review,” said Kris Dahl, a spokesperson for Huntington Bank. “We remain committed to educating customers on safeguarding their finances and recognizing fraud and scams. Fraudsters continually evolve their tactics, often using sophisticated methods to deceive individuals.”

Scams circulating today

Sgt. Joe Zerwas, who is part of the investigations division with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, said there are several scams circulating right now, but the main three are: the grandparent scam, scammers posing as police and IRS-related scams. The grandparent scam is when someone claims that your grandson/granddaughter is in jail, and that you need to pay money immediately to get them out. “People fall for it all the time,” Zerwas said. “…

Tax scams

Under this scam, a con artist calls you posing as a representative of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), United States Department of the Treasury or law enforcement agency and demands a large payment on back taxes or some other purported debt. The con artist will often threaten you with arrest, jail or legal action to pressure you into making an immediate payment. Sometimes, the con artist will ask you to provide your bank account information, which they can use to empty your bank account. Other times, the con artist may instruct you to send the payment via a wire transfer or a reloadable card. After the money is sent, the scam artist disappears, and the money is typically lost for good.

Fake check scams

While these scams take a variety of forms, they typically begin when the scam artist sends you a real-looking check that is fake. You are instructed to deposit or cash the “check” and send some money back to the scam artist or a third person. After the money is sent, the check given to you bounces. By then, the money is generally lost for good. If you receive a check from someone you do not know, and that person asks you to send back some portion of the proceeds from the check, use extreme caution. You are almost certainly being targeted by a fake check scam.

Reloadable card scams

For years, scam artists conned people into sending them money via money-wiring services like Western Union and MoneyGram. Increasingly, however, scam artists are asking

They make it sound like it’s an urgent matter, so they don’t call their grandkid.”

The police scam is when someone calls you and claims to be with the sheriff’s office and demands that money be paid or a warrant will be issued for your arrest. Often, they will use an app on their phone to change how the number shows up on your caller ID, and they use the real names of sheriff’s office employees.

The IRS scam is when they claim that you are delinquent on your taxes. If you don’t pay the money immediately, they say, a warrant will be issued for your arrest. Often they will make up a badge number and a case number to make it sound legitimate.

“They talk people into paying their taxes with an iTunes or Apple gift card,” Zerwas said. “These guys are very good at what they do. They do this all day long every day, so they know what to say and what not to say to get people to buy in.”

Zerwas added that 75 to 80% of the scams that are reported to the sheriff’s office involve gift card payments. “Once the money is transferred, it is gone. There is no way of recouping it,” he said. “They have instant funding with those gift cards versus waiting for a transfer from a bank.”

One thing that all the scams have in common is a sense of urgency. Zerwas says the scams continue to become more believable and more demanding.

“A lot of times when it sounds too good to be true, it is too good to be true,” he said.

Zerwas urges people to pay attention to who is contacting them. For example, if someone from Xcel Energy contacts you and demands money or your power will be turned off, are you an Xcel customer? If someone calls you and claims you have won a sweepstakes, did you enter a sweepstakes contest?

Should someone fall victim to a scam, they should report it to the sheriff’s office right away. Zerwas explained that although many people report a scam, he guesses many don’t call because they feel dumb or embarrassed for believing it.

“Make sure you report it; otherwise they are just going to victimize someone else,” he said. “If there is a way we can track them down, at least we can prevent them from doing it again.” Zerwas noted that “the vast majority” of these scams lead overseas, which can make the recovery of lost funds nearly impossible, but there are some success stories.

A few months ago, a detective received a call

Types of scams

people to forward them money using reloadable cards. These cards are sold at stores and have a serial number that is used to transfer funds from the card. You can designate how much money to load onto the card at any given time and can use the card to make payments to companies or transfer funds to another card. If you provide the card’s serial number to a scam artist, however, the scam artist can drain all the money from the card.

Computer scams

These scams generally begin with a call or email from a con artist posing as a representative of a well-known company, such as Microsoft or Norton. The scam artist typically claims your computer has been infected with a virus or is not working properly because of an error. The scam artist then says that he can remove the virus or fix the error for a fee if you allow him to remotely access your computer, usually by going to a website. In some cases, the scam artist uses this access to steal personal or financial information on your computer, which can be used to commit the crimes of theft or identity theft. Other times, the scam artist may attempt to install malware on your computer, which may allow the scam artist to control the computer remotely, or rogue applications that display fake security alerts to convince you to pay for a useless service.

Lottery scams

Lottery scams typically begin with an unexpected email, letter or phone call from a scam artist who claims you have won money in a lottery or sweepstakes. This seemingly good news might quicken your pulse, but do

Tips

• Check your credit report at least once a year and report inaccuracies. Many people first learn they are victims of identity theft by discovering inaccuracies on their credit reports. Minnesota residents can obtain a free credit report every 12 months from the three major credit bureaus by calling 1 877 322 8228, online at www.annualcreditreport.com, or by writing to: Annual Credit Report Request Service, P.O. Box 105281, Atlanta, GA 30348-5281.

• If you are a victim of tax-related identity theft, there are certain steps you should take to protect your identity. First, call the IRS at 1-800-908-4490 and the Minnesota Department of Revenue at 1-800-652-9094. Second, complete an IRS Identity Theft Affidavit (Form 14039) and submit it to the IRS. Third, place a fraud alert on your credit report by calling the three major credit bureaus (Equifax: 888-766-0008, Experian 888-397-3742 or TransUnion 800-680-7289.

• If an unknown party has your bank or credit card information, you should immediately contact your financial institution.

• Report criminal activity to your local police department and sheriff’s office.

about a woman who believed she was scammed. The scammer had sent texts and phone calls pretending to be from the bank the woman utilizes. The scammer utilized high-pressure tactics, a sense of urgency and an elaborate scheme to convince her to transfer money into a new account. Unknown to the woman, this new account was directly linked to the scammer.

As soon as the detective received this call, she began to work to track down records, identify accounts, freeze funds and ultimately was able to recover the scammed money that remained in the account. The detective was able to present a check to the woman and her family with the money that was recovered earlier last month.

For more information about scams, visit www. ag.state.mn.us/consumer/Scams.

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

not let it override your good judgment. Invariably, the scam artist will ask you to send money to pay purported taxes, insurance or other fees to claim the winnings. Or, the scam artist may ask for your bank account information, supposedly so your winnings can be directly transferred into your bank account. The scam artist uses this information to empty your bank account. Once the money has been sent, contact with the scam artist is cut off, and the money is lost for good.

Phishing

Phishing scams take many forms and target people using several forms of communication, including email, phone calls, text messages and fake websites. In most cases, the scam artist impersonates a bank, government agency or other legitimate company to lure you into disclosing your personal or financial information, which is then used to commit the crimes of theft and identity theft.

Intimidation scams

Scam artists may impersonate the IRS or Minnesota Department of Revenue to intimidate people into making payments on supposed back taxes. The scam artists often threaten people with arrest, lawsuits and imprisonment, and demand they make immediate or unconventional payments. These criminals will say anything to try to get people to send them money and may call over and over to wear down potential victims.

Preparer fraud

Many taxpayers use tax professionals to help them prepare and file their tax returns. Most preparers do great

work, but some bad actors promise guaranteed refunds and then charge exorbitant fees or “skim” money from their client’s refunds.

Tax relief companies

In some cases, tax relief companies provide anything but relief. The most unscrupulous operators use deceptive marketing tactics and charge hefty up-front fees but then fail to deliver the promised help. To make matters worse, these companies sometimes make mistakes that end up costing taxpayers even more money.

Refund anticipation loans and checks

Although these loans sound like a slick way to get your refund quickly, they typically come with high interest rates and costly fees. In most cases, the IRS and the Minnesota Department of Revenue can deposit taxpayers’ refunds directly into their bank account or onto a prepaid debit card within three weeks without any added fees.

Sham charities

Sham charities—often created after a natural disaster—prey on the generosity of citizens. These scam artists solicit cash donations and goods but then provide little or no charitable assistance. Sham charities also sometimes falsely claim that donations are tax deductible. Be aware that only donations made to IRS-qualified charities are tax deductible.

The Office of Minnesota Attorney General’s Office

SOLAR ORDINANCE: Developer says proposed changes will have ‘significant impact’

FROM PAGE 1

• Increasing the minimum setback from any principal structure on adjacent properties from 200 feet to 400 feet.

• Including language that would require solar farms to “be located, insofar as possible, on a central portion of the property in order to minimize visual impact on adjacent properties and dwellings.

• Removing solar farms in the floodplain as a permitted use within urban zoning districts.

• Amending the definition of a solar farm to clarify that it is capable or intended to distribute electricity for off-site use.

Alex Gast, chief operating officer of Cedar Creek Energy in Blaine, spoke on behalf of the Lutz family, which would like to construct a solar farm on part of their acreage located off of 157th Street. Gast said he agreed with the change in lot size requirement, but worried about the setback requirement and the language requiring the solar farms to be centrally located on the property.

“A change like this is going to have a significant impact on their ability to farm their land,” Gast said. “From

COUNTY BRIEFS

the developer side, we locate these arrays as close to the power lines as possible, which is typically by the road. It saves us money; it lowers us the cost of building roads and maintaining them into the sites. Most importantly, it allows us to stack them off to the side and maintain usable land for these homeowners. If you take a square box on a parcel that may be a triangle or an odd shape and you set it in the middle, that square is going to eat up a ton of usable land for these landowners and have a significant impact on their operations.”

Mark Lutz said, “You are trying to shove a square peg into a round hole, because what works for a different person does not work for us. If anyone is going to see it, it is going to be my brother and I. We don’t mind seeing it. It is income property for us.”

John Lutz invited Planning Commission members, as well as the City Council, to visit their property.

“You have to look at the situation before you jump in and vote on it,” he said.

“Making a decision sitting here without looking at it would be like marrying someone without looking at them.”

Community Development Director

Driver exams at Stillwater License Center expand to 5 days a week

The Minnesota Department of Public Safety’s Driver and Vehicle Services (DVS) division will begin offering driver exams at Washington County’s Stillwater License Center five days a week from April 1 through June 30.

The Washington County Board of Commissioners approved a lease amendment allowing DVS to expand from offering driver exams from two days a week to five. DVS’s existing agreement is a five-year lease that began Dec. 1, 2021, and continues through Nov. 30, 2026.

As it currently stands, the DVS driver exam station will return to two days per week at the Stillwater License Center as of July 1.

Sheriff’s Office receives donation for forensic access tool

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a $11,820 donation from OUR Rescue to purchase a license for a forensic tool to access encrypted data on mobile devices. The software called GrayKey Essentials is designed to provide same-day, lawful

SCHOOL BRIEF

Oneka

Elementary not meeting reading comprehension

test goal

Oneka Elementary Principal Lori Mosser reports that her school’s first-grade students have taken both fall and winter FastBridge reading comprehension screening tests. The state-approved test separates

NAMES IN THE NEWS

Rachel Juba reminded everyone that the commission was asked to weigh in on the ordinance language, not a specific project.

Resident Ann Broste suggested the Planning Commission consider adding language to the ordinance regarding noise levels. She also wanted to know if there was going to be a cap on how many solar farms would be permitted within the city.

Juba said although there was nothing regarding noise in the solar ordinance, it could be dealt with using the city’s nuisance ordinance that addresses noise levels. If the Planning Commission did want to pursue adding language about noise, that was an option too.

Klein shared that he lives about a quarter mile away from a solar farm.

“In all honesty, unless someone told you it was there, you would drive right past it. It is pretty quiet … if a dog barks, you are going to hear that before you hear a solar farm,” he said.

Resident Daniel Baack said, “I want to thank you guys for going back to the drawing board and not just nixing solar altogether. The way you guys approached this was well thought

access to mobile devices and extraction of encrypted data.

OUR Rescue is a nonprofit organization that exists to protect children from sex trafficking and sexual exploitation, a mission best accomplished through collaboration with law enforcement agencies both in the U.S. and abroad. The donation from OUR Rescue is part of its commitment to empowering domestic law enforcement agencies by providing tools, training and technology to enhance their abilities to combat child exploitation.

Dan Dolan recognized for years of service to U of M Extension Committee

Commissioners recently recognized Dan Dolan, who retired after serving on the University of Minnesota Extension Committee since 2008. He also served as president of the Washington County Ag Society for 11 years.

In those roles, Dolan advocated for funding to support Extension programming: specifically, the 4-H program. He secured private funds to sustain the 4-H program and expand the Extension presence in Washington County. Dolan broadened the 4-H program to include 4-H Youth Teaching Youth, which

students into three bands: low risk, some risk and high risk of developing learning difficulties.

High-risk students increased from 10% to 12%, some-risk students decreased from 40% to 29% and low-risk increased from 49% to 58%. Mosser states that Oneka’s goal is that 80% of K-2 students will show low risk on their spring FastBridge assessment.

BUSINESS BRIEFS

and Finance Department, has been named Purchasing Manager of the Year by the Minnesota Chapter of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing (NIGP).

NIGP is dedicated to advancing public procurement through education, certification and professional resources for government and nonprofit purchasing professionals. Castro’s peers nominated her for the award in recognition of her leadership, innovative process and policy improvements, and dedication to excellence in public procurement.

The award recognizes Castro’s achievements in the field of procurement, highlighting her expertise in purchasing, commitment to professional development, and dedicated service.

out.” He added, “I just want to provide support for solar in the community. I think it is great.”

Planning Commission Member Cindy Petty said it was important to keep in mind that even if there are no neighbors close to the proposed project location now, years down the road that might change. “There might be houses close to that property line in the future, so we can’t just say there is nothing there right now,” she said.

Planning Commission Member Steve Andress added, “I think what we have in place addresses the issues that were brought to us originally. If we have any further things, we will address those.”

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the changes to the City Council. Staff indicated that the ordinance would be included on the council’s consent agenda for the next meeting April 7.

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

trains teens to teach younger children about healthy living. Dolan sought external funds in 2011 to pilot this program. Today, it continues to empower 4-H teens to take charge and lead the sessions on their own to their younger peers.

She explains that teachers work daily with small groups of students in “What I Need” sessions to provide targeted instruction. Teachers are also monitoring progress by documenting student performance and making adjustments to instruction. Logan Gion

Lyngblomsten hosts virtual workshop for caregivers

Lyngblomsten will host an event titled “Caregiver Education: Resilience and Stress-reduction Techniques: Mindfulness, Yoga and Qigong” from 4:30-6 p.m. Tuesday, April 8, via Zoom.

The virtual workshop, led by certified yoga teacher Michelle Barclay, will help participants better identify and understand stress that can accompany caring for someone living with memory and thinking changes. Participants will also learn about and have the opportunity to sample various resilience-building practices, such as mindfulness, yoga and Qigong.

Registration is required by Friday, April 4. To register, contact Lyngblomsten Community Services

at 651-632-5320 or caregiving@ lyngblomsten.org.

Basketball performance center comes to Lino Lakes

Shoot 360, a basketball performance center, is coming to Lino Lakes. The organization will help players master fundamental and advanced basketball skills through coaching and technology. Shoot 360 will be located at 455 Park Court. For more information, visit www.shoot360.com.

Nicki Castro, procurement manager in Washington County’s Accounting

CONTRIBUTED

Dan Dolan holds a Commissioner Service Award. He is joined (from left) by Washington County Commissioners Stan Karwoski, Karla Bigham, Fran Miron, Bethany Cox and Michelle Clasen. Dolan retired from his service on the Extension Committee earlier this year. The county board passed a resolution honoring Dolan.

CONTRIBUTED

Washington County Procurement Manager

Nicki Castro holds the NIGP Purchasing Manager of the Year Award. Castro is joined (from left) by Commissioners Karla Bigham, Bethany Cox, Fran Miron, Michelle Clasen and Stan Karwoski, and Accounting and Finance Director Cat Piepho.

EASTER WORSHIP

All are welcome!

welcome!

welcome!

Holy Thursday at 7 pm Parish Comm Center  Good Friday at 7pm Parish Comm Center  Easter Vigil at 8 pm Parish Comm Center   Easter Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site

Easter Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Comm Center  Easter Egg Hunt follows both Sunday Masses  www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937

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

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

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1. At Oneka Elementary, students practiced their engineering skills by working with robots. In groups, they programmed their robot to move in different patterns and make noises. With a different robot, students practiced entering code so the robot would follow colored squares! — White Bear Lake Area Schools, contributed

2. The Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network is celebrating 15 years. In photo 3, the network recorded a podcast for Minnesota Military Radio live from the 32nd Welcome Home Pheasant Hunt at Wild Wings of Oneka. Pictured (from left) are: Major General Charles Kemper, Commander 34th Infantry Division; Major General Shawn Manke, State of Minnesota Adjutant General; Chuck Haas, chair of the Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon Network; and Colonel Ed Suarez. — Contributed

3. Tyler Scott, Wild Wings Manager; Yellow Ribbon Network Chair Chuck Haas; Doug Wortham, host of Minnesota Military Radio.

sandhill

How one company pioneers horse-human healing sessions

BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER

Horses have long been known to provide a calming sensation to the humans they interact with.

According to the HeartMath Institute, when both interact in a relaxed state, a horse’s heart rhythm will synchronize in conjunction with a human’s, creating a calming atmosphere for both.

At Three Little Burdes Pony Company, Founder and Director Krystal Sieben has crafted her business to illustrate this bond and create a therapeutic venture for customers, particularly those who have physical handicaps and special needs.

“We see kids who are in wheelchairs, have spina bifida or other limitations where they wouldn’t be able to get up onto a horse,” said Sieben. “My goal with the community is to introduce underserved populations to the magic of being around horses and how fun and confidence-building it can be.”

The history of Three Little Burdes is a beginning tied to Sieben’s struggles, particularly the difficulty she faced in finding help for her son, Teddy, who was diagnosed with autism in 2015. “The sad and difficult part of autism was never my son — the reaction to him was,” Sieben wrote in an article, “Healing and a Horse Named Chadwick,” for the website “Her View From Home.” “I wasn’t prepared for the isolation that came with autism, the aloneness I felt. Unkind words and unsolicited advice about this beautiful baby who I loved so deeply.”

“My goal … is to introduce underserved populations to the magic of being around horses and how fun and confidence-building it can be.”

Krystal Sieben Founder/Director

Through meeting a horse named Chadwick, Sieben felt a shift in her sadness. Chadwick’s previous owner, a veteran with PTSD, was no longer able to look after him due to his condition. Over the years, their further interactions helped Sieben hold a more positive outlook on her isolation. “In those moments, Chadwick was doing something for me no one else could,” Sieben wrote. “He was bringing me back to myself. He was taking away my buried sadness. He was lifting the invisible weight from my heart.”

Sieben said that starting Three Little Burdes which opened at Morningstar Farm in Stillwater in 2022, was a way to give others this same healing experience for new and returning clients. The nonprofit company offers free interactions with horses and ponies. While clients cannot ride the animals (some have physical handicaps that prevent them from doing so), they can walk with, feed and brush the animals, all while Sieben maintains a safe environment for those involved.

“I speak with every person before they come out for a visit to make sure that I know of any accommodations,” said Sieben. “I always assure moms who have kids with autism that sometimes, when it’s over, there are tantrums and tears, and I let them know that that’s okay. I try to be a very understanding and welcoming person, being a special needs parent myself.”

Sieben, who is also a professional photographer, typically takes three to five photos per experience, gifting physical copies to each participating person/ family afterward.

In describing Three Little Burdes, Sieben said being the mother of a son with autism helped shape her vision to cater to customers with or without special needs. “When you have one child with special needs and others that don’t, it’s hard to find family activities that everyone will enjoy,” said Sieben. “But whenever we’re at the barn, everyone enjoys it. My daughter, Ada, would hop on her pony and ride around, and Teddy is out in the open and can interact with the horses with no problem. It’s a positive for the whole family, and shaped my vision to be a welcoming place where if you have one special needs child and a typical child going to see horses, it’s fun for everyone.”

Since opening in Stillwater, the company has expanded to include a location at Pine Meadow Farm in Hudson, Wisconsin (which opened in late 2023), and a planned spring 2025 opening at Woodloch Stable in Hugo. Each location features one horse that is specifically trained to help cater to special-needs customers. Sieben chose a Norwegian Fjord horse named Syver, stabled at Morningstar Farm, due to the breed’s reputation as a therapy animal. “They’re often used in therapy because they’re patient, calm and don’t take off like a typical horse would if it were scared,” said Sieben. “They’re really good in special needs therapeutic riding programs.”

Syver, who is 2, has been working with customers since he was 6 and is currently training to be a therapy horse.

At Pine Meadow Farm is 20-year-old Sunflower, a former lesson pony, who Sieben describes as “been there, done that, used to everything.

“She’s really good with toddlers and those with more severe special needs because of how small she is,” said Sieben. “Usually, if I have someone who hasn’t been with me before or has some limitations, I start with Sunflower because she’s like a big dog. She’s a safe intro to horses, and all the guests love her.”

For the Woodloch Stable location, Cougaroo, a former jumping horse, will be the designated animal. Now retired from jumping due to a leg injury, Cougaroo was gifted to the company by stable coowner Ingvill Ramberg after learning of Sieben and

SPORTS PREVIEWS

her story. Those visiting the stable as part of Three Little Burdes will be allowed company-regulated interactions with Cougaroo. At the same time, stableonly customers will also be able to participate in riding lessons.

The Three Little Burdes Stillwater location is at Morningstar Farms at 12490 Norell Ave. N., Stillwater; the Hudson location is at Pine Meadow Farm at 1181 Trout Brook Road, Hudson, Wisconsin. To learn more about Three Little Burdes, please visit www.givemn.org/organization/Three-Littles-BurdesPony-Company or follow them on Instagram at three_ little_burdes.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Krystal’s daughter Ada shares a moment with Cougaroo, a former jumping horse who will be at the company’s soon-tobe-open Hugo location this spring.

Stillwater resident Krystal Sieben started Three Little Burdes Pony Company in 2022 to offer free, therapeutic experiences with horses and ponies for those customers with or without special needs. From left to right are Ada (daughter), Krystal (mother), Beau (son), Tom (husband, center back) and Teddy (son) with their horse, Syver

Fire department calls continue to rise in Hugo

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

HUGO — For the past several years, the number of calls the fire department has received has been on the rise, except for when they stayed flat from 2022 to 2023.

In 2024, the Hugo Fire Department (HFD) had a total of 411 calls, which represents an increase of 31 calls from 2023.

“We saw an 8% increase in call volume in 2024; that’s fairly standard for the industry,” said HFD Fire Chief Jim Compton Jr. “Because of the trends, we think the calls will continue to increase.” Compton added that several factors go into that call load, including the age of residents, age of homes, weather, types of facilities in town and traffic.

Of those 411 calls, there were 178 medical (assisting MHealth Fairview), 125 fire and service, 56 alarms, 29 motor vehicle accidents (rescue) and 23 mutual aid calls.

When it comes to alarm calls, HFD saw an increase in gas leaks/carbon monoxide calls (40) compared to 17 in 2023.

“When we do get into the homes, we are able to educate them and teach them a little bit about smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms and their life

expectancy, how they operate, what a chirp means …” Compton said.

Structure fires decreased. In 2023, HFD responded to 36 structure fires compared to 25 in 2024. Of those 25 structure fires, 11 were within the city of Hugo. That equated to $85,675,651 in property loss due to fire.

“We don’t like to talk about fire value loss,” Compton said. “One large fire was a big portion of that.”

In 2024, December was the busiest month for calls (45) followed by April (42) and September (40). The slowest month in terms of calls was June (19). The busiest time of day was 9 to 10 a.m. (29 calls) and 7 to 8 p.m. (29 calls), followed by 2 to 3 p.m. (27 calls).

Compton noted that 57% of HFD’s calls occur between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.; 25% of calls between 6 and 11 p.m.; and 18% of calls from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. He added that HFD is blessed to have an average response of nine firefighters per call. “That’s incredible for a paid on-call fire department. Not a lot of fire departments can say that,” he noted.

When it comes to days of the week, in 2024 Wednesdays were the busiest: 68 calls, followed by Fridays at 67 calls and Sundays, 60.

HFD, along with fire departments across Minnesota, are using a new software called UrbanLogiq that maps the areas of a jurisdiction that have the

most fires and pinpoints the cause of those fires.

“We are at a medium risk for fires, which is pretty good,” Compton explained.

Going into 2025, HFD has several goals including:

• Creating a truck committee to evaluate the purchase of a new pumper/ tanker

• Working with the building

department on the future of the fire marshal position. (Current fire marshal Gina Duncanson is nearing retirement.)

• Continue discussion on staffing models

• Hiring more paid on-call firefighters later in the year.

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

New construction remains popular: ‘People are moving to Hugo’

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

HUGO — By now, Washington County residents have received their tax statements for 2025 and their proposed tax statement for 2026.

It’s a yearly tradition for the county assessor to visit the City Council to recap some of the key findings for the assessment year (AY). Tyson Terry, a residential property appraiser with Washington County, recently shared findings for AY 2025 (based upon actual real estate market trends of Washington County properties from Oct. 1, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2024).

“We are determining value for properties. There is a little bit of a misconception that we are in charge of taxes, but our goal is to equalize values within the county and at the city level as well,” Terry explained. “What we are trying to do is to make sure that when we have a value on a property, that it is fair and reasonable compared to other like properties … A lot of what we do is dictated by the state.”

Although each property in the county is reassessed every year based on market conditions, individual properties are viewed by the assessor every five years. The reviews begin in March and must be completed by October 30. As a part of AY 2025, 1,123 reviews were completed in Hugo alone, and 1,476 properties will be up for review in AY 2026.

The city of Hugo had 220 qualified residential sales, one fewer sale than the prior year, that ranged from $187,500 to $930,000 (not including new

construction starts). The median sales price for a single-family home in Washington County was $496,000 and in Hugo was $493,145, compared to $417,825 in the Twin Cities.

“One thing to note with residential sales is the volume of sales is down,” Terry said. “I hear a lot of talk about the market being down, but when you look at the average sales price … We haven’t dropped significantly; we have dropped in volume.

We are seeing a lot less sales.” Although homes are spending more time on the market, sellers are typically still receiving their asking price.

The median value for a single-family home in Hugo increased by 5% at $408,700 in AY 2025 compared to $389,400 in AY 2024.

New construction continues to be a popular option in Hugo. According to NorthstarMLS data, newly constructed homes comprised 34% of the home sales in Hugo last year, which was up by 9% from 2023.

The city had a total of 170 new starts, an increase of 50 from AY 2024. Of those new starts, 162 of those were single-family homes and eight were condos/ townhomes.

“New construction is a big portion of what is selling in Hugo … There are a lot of developments going up,” Terry said. “There are quite a bit more (new construction starts) in Hugo than most of the cities in Washington County outside of Woodbury or Cottage Grove.”

Lender-mediated sales remain down across the county. The city of Hugo saw no lender-mediated sales in AY 2025 or AY 2024.

“What that tells us is that the market is in pretty good shape,” Terry said. “People are moving to Hugo.”

To view the full 2025 assessment report, visit https://washington.minnesotaassessors.com/ forms.php.

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

The above pie chart breaks down the 125 fire and service calls in 2024. GRAPHS

Hugo Fire Department (HFD) had a total of 411 calls, which represents an increase of 31 calls from 2023.

The above graph shows call volumes for 2014 through 2024.

Nelson receives Athena Award

Standout runner Kylie Nelson is Centennial’s choice for the Athena Award.

All schools participating in this program, named for the Greek goddess of wisdom and skills, choose their top all-around senior girl athlete to attend an Athena Awards event, slated for May 2 at the Earle Brown Heritage Center in Brooklyn Center.

Nelson has made all-state in cross country three times, placing 21st, 13th and 11th. She went to the 2024 state track meet in the 1600, placing 11th and the 4x800, where she earned a fifth-place medal.

Nelson was also an all-conference gymnast before deciding to concentrate on running.

She has signed with North Dakota State.

Bears, Zephyrs announce Athena Award winners

Among many qualified athletes, two stood out in their respective high schools to be recognized with this year’s Athena Award. All schools participating in this program, named for the Greek goddess of wisdom and skills, choose their top all-around senior girl athlete to attend an Athena Awards event, slated for St. Paul RiverCentre on April 16.

Three-sport athlete

Maddy Belisle is White Bear Lake’s choice for the Athena Award. Belisle is a returning all-conference outfielder in softball. She was named the hockey team’s top defenseman. She played doubles on the conference runner-up tennis team and got all-SEC honorable mention.

Track and volleyball

standout Kaili Malvey

SPORTS BRIEF

is Mahtomedi’s choice for the Athena Award. Malvey was section long jump champion and placed sixth at state last spring, also qualifying in 100 hurdles. She was conference champion in high jump and second in long jump. Malvey’s agility and explosiveness also made her an all-con-

Centennial High School participates in girls flag football

Centennial High School will be one of the first Minnesota high school teams to participate in the high school girls flag football league this spring. In total, around 50 high schools in Minnesota will participate in the league this

Bears bid farewell to longtime coach

BY BRUCE STRAND CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Tom Paulson always had a specific pitch when recruiting kids to join the track and field team.

“If you want to be stronger, quicker, or faster, join track,” he would say. “That is what we do. Your other sport coach will be impressed.”

Paulson made kids stronger, quicker or faster for 47 years, 39 of them with White Bear Lake, and the last 34 as head coach. He retired after the 2024 season but will remain in the sport as manager for the Bears home meets.

Asked what he especially likes about track and field, he explained, “The culture of the boys track program was that everyone was included and valued. Track is a great sport because everyone can be successful and improve if they are willing.”

Paulson took over a strong Bear track program in 1991 upon the retirement of Ron Sass, whom he had assisted for five years, and continued that tradition. The Bears regularly placed in the top three of the Suburban East. The Bears captured the MSHSL Section 4 championship seven times between 1987 and 2019. They’ve won the section true team title 15 times in the 37 years it’s been held, good team depth being a hallmark of the program. The Bears were true team state champs in 1987.

Paulson has coached nine individual state champions, starting with Dan Lynch, who won both long- and triple-jump in 1988. He counts 135 individual state entrants and a total of 205 entrants counting relay teams.

“Watching student athletes accomplish more than they ever imagined has made me proud,” said Paulson.

Paulson was in cross country, basketball and track at Mabel-Canton High School, graduating in 1973. He got his

degree from Winona State and started his coaching career at Mazeppa 1977-85. In 1986, he arrived at White Bear Lake.  Several Hall of Fame coaches rubbed off on Paulson. His high school track and country coach was Verdon Hasleiet. He was an assistant to Bears boys basketball coach Jim Galvin in addition to Sass. He competed for years against Stillwater’s Scott Christensen and Mounds View’s Ross Fleming. Hasleiet “taught me the love of running,” Paulson said. Galvin guided him “by showing me the value of coaching for life.” From Sass he learned ‘how to elevate athletes to a higher standard.” Coaching against Christensen and Fleming “motivated me to recruit and raise the bar.”

Paulson said he’s had many outstanding assistants, most notably Doug Hicks with sprinters for over 30 years, Dan Destache with hurdlers and pole vaulters for over 20 years, and Dan Kovacich with distance runners for over 20 years.

Kovacich, also the cross country head coach, enjoyed his two decades on Paulson’s track staff "because he was organized and wanted to win."

Kovacich, who got to know Paulson when running for the Bears in high school, added,  “He never gave up on kids. He wanted them to be the best student/ athlete they could be. When you coached with Tom, you wanted to impress him because of the passion he had for the sport.”

A technology education teacher, Paulson retired from the classroom in 2013. Like many devoted coaches, he stayed with his team for another dozen years.

“The relationships you build with athletes, parents, and other coaches are life long,” he said. “I really enjoyed being called Coach.”

This Week In SPORTS

WHITE BEAR LAKE SOFTBALL Wednesday: at Woodbury, 4:30 p.m. Friday: Stillwater, 4:30 p.m. Monday: Irondale, 4:30 p.m.

GIRLS TRACK

at Roseville (7 teams), 3:30 p.m.

ference hitter on the volleyball team that won conference and section titles and placed fifth in the state tournament. She’s gone twice each in volleyball and track.

Bruce Strand

season. The league was started and created by the Minnesota Vikings. The Minnesota High School Girls Flag Football League will kick off in April, when teams will compete in doubleheaders throughout the regular season. Select schools will host postseason matchups that will culminate Monday, June 9 with a state championship tournament held at TCO Stadium.

CENTENNIAL

4 p.m. Tuesday April 1 at Osseo; 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at Blaine SOFTBALL

3 p.m. Tuesday April 1 vs. Osseo at Maple Grove; 4:30 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at Blaine; 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 at East Ridge

4 p.m. Thursday, April 3 at Champlin Park

3:30 p.m. Friday, April 4 at Forest Lake (also Rogers)

Bruce Strand

BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED

Kylie Nelson will continue her running career at North Dakota State

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Maddy Belisle is a hockey, softball and tennis athlete for White Bear Lake.

Kaili Malvey excels in volleyball and track for Mahtomedi.

Forest Lake Veterans Memorial enters new development phase

BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER

When you’re at Lakeside Memorial Park in Forest Lake, you will likely come across a unique feature: a row of pavers, each engraved with the name of a local veteran, rank, unit and time of service. These pavers are part of an ongoing program by the Forest Lake Area Veterans Memorial Planning Committee to honor veterans, alive or deceased, through a special site. Now, the committe is planning for the memorial to enter a new phase of development. For this next stage, a round of old and new pavers are to be placed to form a raised platform, with a bronze centerpiece and flagpole in the middle. “It brings out a message of what service of veterans is all about,” said committee member Bob Dettmer. “I really believe that our community is going to be very happy with this memorial.”

The committee has placed pavers along the park’s walkway for both Memorial Day and Veterans Day dedications. The pavers themselves are paid for and ordered by residents; the committee is in charge of designing the final product. Recently, members began looking at ways to make the next order of pavers stand out.

“We started looking at what we really want as an above-ground scenario,” said committee chairman Ron Miller. “We wanted to bring the pavers that were already done, have those in the new section and continue to build on that. But we also wanted a background piece so that people can see it’s a veterans memorial.”

The centerpiece will be designed to have two sides: one featuring a soldier saluting and the other with the soldier’s spouse holding their daughter. Near the bottom will be an engraved sentence about how, despite war ravaging the world, the spirit of service will always shine through.

“It’s a family thing that both male and female might be in the service,”

added Miller. “It’s kind of honoring everybody.”

The project’s cost is $750,000. Funds will be contributed from residents who purchase pavers, the city, state bonding money and legacy funds. The committee is currently in discussion with the state Legislature about receiving further funding. “We’re hopeful that that comes through,

even if it’s half of what we requested,” said committee designer Mark Finnemann, adding that community response has already been very positive. “All the organizations like Lions, Masons and the rest have participated, and I think the community has always given us a good response. It’s a very veteranoriented territory up here.”

Work on the raised platform will begin this fall, and completion is anticipated in spring 2026. However, Miller said more funding will be needed to finish the centerpiece, which he hopes will be completed by that fall.

In addition to honoring veterans, Dettmer hopes the memorial will be educational to younger viewers. “I think young people need to see memorials like this and understand the importance of our military and of honoring and respecting veterans. You look at parades when the flag goes by, and you’re supposed to stand up, honor the flag, our country and put your hand over your heart. Those are things young people need to see as role models by us adults to understand the importance of our country, our Constitution and serving in our military.”

Those interested in ordering a paver for the memorial site can do so at www.ci.forest-lake.mn.us/209/ Veterans-Memorial.

Staff Writer Erik Suchy can be reached at 651-407-1229 or lowdownnews@presspubs.com

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familial status, or nationa l origin, or an intention, to make any such preferen ce, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 livin g with parents or legal custod ians; pregnant women and peop

FOREST LAKE | CONTRIBUTED

The Forest Lake Area Veterans Memorial Planning Committee plans to build a new centerpiece, flagpole and raised platform to honor veterans at Lakeside Memorial Park. Pictured is a 3D rendering of the final design

andArts Culture

EMERGING ARTIST: BEN MCMILLEN

BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER

White Bear Lake Area High School senior Ben McMillen is attending University of Wisconsin Milwaukee for film school this fall with a focus on directing—so when Competitive One-Act Director Braylon Lane restarted the student-directed plays this past spring, McMillen jumped at the chance.

“As I go into a career doing this sort of thing, it’ll be a lot of help to get this early experience,” McMillen stated. He and his classmates had a tight turnaround, however, getting the shows from script to stage. “We had a week of rehearsals before spring break and a week of rehearsals after spring break,” McMillen reported.

This accelerated process has taught McMillen essential lessons a young director needs. First, he had to pick the right material. “It gave me a really interesting opportunity to think about my limits,” he recounted. For his part of the showcase, McMillen adapted GeorgesGustave Toudouze’s 1937 horror-adventure story “Three Skeleton Key,” about men who must survive in a

lighthouse when rats invade their island. “What would be a good, small cast, single-location script … we’ve got two weeks and we’ve got limited resources, right?”

Second, McMillen got to use the knowledge he gained from being on both cast and crew of past White Bear shows. He ran the soundboard for past musicals, including “Chicago,” “Little Shop of Horrors” and “Legally Blonde.” This past winter, he played The Narrator in “She Kills Monsters,” the first competitive one-act from White Bear Lake to compete at the state level in over a decade.

This holistic view has allowed McMillen to appreciate the behind-the-scenes members of his team. “I cannot give more appreciation to the crew,” McMillen stated. “The tech people, even the backstage—that’s an art in itself. I think it can be lost, the appreciation for that. But that is hard, hard work, and you bring yourself to that as much as an actor brings themselves to their characters.”

Putting one’s entire being into a show, knowing his production team is doing the same, has allowed McMillen to express his vision. “I get a whole lot of community out of theater. I’ve met most of my best

WHITE BEAR ARMORY RESERVES SPACE FOR HISTORY CONFERENCE

BY LOGAN GION

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Since 1991, Minnesota Alliance of Local History Museums (MALHM) has offered support and connection to about 500 history organizations. This year, for the first time in 20 years, their annual conference will be in the metro area. What’s more, it will be at the White Bear Lake Armory.

“We always try to rotate around the state to different regions,” explained Alliance Coordinator Liz Koele. White Bear Lake Area Historical Society Executive Director Sara Hanson felt that, between the Armory and Kellerman Event Center next door, the town could host the growing event. “I would say, in the last 10 years, the conference has doubled in size,” Hanson said.

“There’s more history being told,” remarked White Bear Lake Area Historical Society Community Engagement Director Allison Lincoln. “We have community centers that are popping up that need help, but a lot of these places are volunteer-based … How do we do an exhibit that can meet our community’s need with the funds and the abilities that we have?” Similarly, Lincoln adds that small communities have inspired White Bear’s approach. “You can compare people’s ideas and make them fit your community or your capacity. I’m really excited to learn from peers.”

Koele stated that members of the public can also attend parts or all of the conference, an awards luncheon at the Armory as well as mixers at the Maplewood Area Historical Society and Washington County Heritage Center.

friends through the theater program,” McMillen explained. “It’s corny, but it is a family after a while … that underlying love because we’re all pursuing the same goal here.” White Bear’s theater community likely feels the same way about McMillen. He has been selected as the student assistant director for the high school’s spring production of “The Play that Goes Wrong.”

An additional highlight will be a sneak peek of White Bear Lake Area Historical Soceity’s first permanent exhibit at the Armory, “X Marks the Spot.” While White Bear residents will get a full look during the unveiling in May, conference attendees will get to see a near-complete version almost a month beforehand. “It’s 10 spots around the lake where history happens,” Hanson explained. “Everything from Native American burial grounds to Gerry Spiess sailing the Atlantic—all sorts of interesting pieces that come together to make our community.”

The MALHM Annual Meeting and Conference will be at the White Bear Lake Armory from April 2224. For tickets and details, visit mnhistoryalliance.org/conferenceregistration.

WHITE BEAR LAKE MIDDLE SCHOOLS AMONG FIRST IN STATE TO PERFORM ‘BEETLEJUICE JR.’

BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER

When Central and Mariner’s combined middle-school production of “Beetlejuice Jr.” opens on April 24, they will be only the second school in the state to perform the show. “I can confidently say that we were the first to apply in Minnesota for it and get those rights,” added the show’s director and newly minted Hugo resident, Odelis Garcia Anderson.

The junior version of “Beetlejuice,” Anderson elaborated, cuts out anything inappropriate for a public middle school to perform. Still, the story—about a goth teenager named Lydia forced to move into a new house with her stepmother, Delia, only to find its previous owners’ ghosts are still living there—may not be the right fit for some young viewers.“If your kid is scared of Halloween, this is not the show for them,” Anderson cautioned. “It can be dark, but it’s super fun.” Anderson believes much of the fun in this production comes from her cast’s deft performances. “The actor playing Beetlejuice has earned it, and has done it amazingly,” Anderson revealed. The director also praised the young

actor playing Lydia. “She has the attitude of Lydia down. Still, you can see a little innocence wanting to come back out.” Finally, Anderson teased that audiences will love Lydia’s stepmother. “The actress who plays Delia has gone above and beyond, especially using her tone of voice and her body language… She’s quirky. She’s weird. She lives in a different universe. It’s hilarious.”

While Anderson had final casting say, she also relied on a panel of 13 judges, 10 of whom are high-school student volunteers. With each grade level represented, these student directors help pick the show, help block scenes and help choreograph music. “They’re kids that are invested in theater, and they want to learn the other side of being on stage,” Anderson said.

Anderson also believes that these high-schoolers, many of whom were involved in past middle-school shows, set a professional example for the younger, more rambunctious production members. “The kids know that we come here to work hard, ” Anderson stated, “but when we get it done, when we see what we do, we are so proud of that hard work.”

“Beetlejuice Jr.” performs at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 24, and Friday, April 25 as well as 2 p.m. Saturday, April 26 at Central Auditorium, 4855 Bloom Ave., White Bear Lake.

APRIL EVENTS

GANGSTER BUS TOURS

Location: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 Fourth St.

Date: 10-11:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m.

Saturday, April 26

Details: Come along for an adventurous outing to explore the hideouts and haunts of the 1930s era gangsters who laid low in the cottages around White Bear and Bald Eagle Lakes. Sights include a Mahtomedi speakeasy and the location of a notorious dance club. Feel free to dress in your best speakeasy clothing. Tickets are $30 and can be purchased at whitebearhistory.org/events/ gangster-bus-tours/.

THE WRITER’S ROOM: AN OPEN STUDIO FOR WRITERS

Location: White Bear Center for the Arts, 4971 Long Avenue

Date: 1-4 p.m. Friday, April 25

Details: Write in the company of fellow writers in an inspiring space, led by Amber Guetebier. For adults and teens 16+, all levels. Contact: 651-407-0597 or whitebeararts.org

MONROE CROSSING

Location: Hanifl Performing Arts

Center Date: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 6

Details: Named in honor of Bill Monroe, “The Father of Bluegrass Music,” Monroe Crossing dazzles audiences with an electrifying blend of bluegrass: classic, gospel, & original, and even selections outside the bluegrass genre. Their superb musicianship and onstage rapport have entertained audiences across the United States, Canada and Europe for nearly 20 years. Tickets available at www.lakeshoreplayers. org/20242025-concert-season

Ben McMillen