COUNTRY
Serving Marine on St. Croix, Scandia, May Township
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 26, 2019 VOL. 36 NO. 09 www.countrymessenger.com $.75
FAT CAT 2019: Upcoming triathlon details . PAGE 7
Two arrested in case involving May Township
Surf Yogurt Bar brings taste of coast to Marine
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
BY SUZANNE LINDGREN EDITOR@COUNTRYMESSENGER.COM
For three years, the Judd Street building between the chocolate shop and cafe sat dark. But not exactly quiet. Inside, David Heieren was executing a vision, installing and tweaking until he had everything just right. “It was like a Willy Wonka thing,” he said. “I was in here, the door was locked and townspeople were passing by. They figured something was happening. But when we finally opened people were surprised by how it turned out.” Granted, a surf-inspired anything would be a surprise for the riverside village. But with Robin’s West Coast upbringing and the family’s enduring connections there, a beachy frozen yogurt shop seemed a natural fit for the building’s vintage vibe. “David wanted to save the old buildings in Marine,” Robin explained. “He saw this one for sale and he
“They were the busy ones,” David said. “The ones you really wanted to go.”
Two people were arrested last week in a case involving May Township, according to the Washington County Sheriff's Office. The investigation began June 9, after an Uber driver found a woman in the road near Highway 95 and 124th Street North in the early morning hours. She was transported to a hospital. Saturday, June 15, a first suspect was arrested and charged with attempted murder and kidnapping for the benefit of a gang. The suspect was identified as 23-year-old Luis Alfredo Cortez Mendoza. Tuesday, June 18, at 5 p.m. a second suspect was taken into custody. The Washington County Attorney's office charged 32-year-old Angel Ignacio Sardina-Padilla him with aiding and abetting murder and kidnapping for the benefit of a gang. The victim of the shooting, a 39-year-old St. Paul woman, told emergency medical responders “Luis had brought her to Stillwater to kill her,” according to the criminal complaint. After surgery and several days in recovery, the woman told law enfocement she knew Padilla, or Diablo, as a member of the Surenos 13 gang and a meth dealer. She reported that she bought a gun from him June 8, but was $100 short and asked him to come back for the rest later. The following day, after the gun went missing, Padilla and Mendoza took the victim from her apartment and drove around for hours. Eventually Padilla told Mendoza to “take her.” After several more hours, Mendoza shot the woman and fled the scene. Upon his June 15 arrest, Mendoza confirmed that he and Padilla were members of Surenos 13, and that at Padilla’s order he shot the victim. He told law enforcement he’d driven for several hours contemplating wither to go through with killing her. He said he was afraid that if he didn’t, he would be killed. Mendoza had a court appearance Monday, June
SEE YOGURT, PAGE 2
SEE ARREST, PAGE 2
SUZANNE LINDGREN | COUNTRY MESSENGER
Gabe Fry, an employee at Surf Yogurt Bar, demonstrates how the self-serve set up works. Frozen yogurt is charged by weight.
wanted to put something in that was kind of like the coffee shop we used to go to in Newport Beach. I come from California and we
wanted to bring a little bit of that. The surf shops there weren’t all fixed and new and glamorous. They were mom and pop places.”
Where to find fireworks festivities BY KELLY HOLM CONTRIBUTING WRITER
July 4 is approaching once again, and with America’s 243rd birthday comes the classic tradition of watching colors explode in the sky. Whether you’re local in town or traveling from afar, there is no shortage of fireworks displays across the St. Croix Valley.
Marine on St. Croix After some uncertainty in finding a suitable launch site, Marine on St. Croix’s annual July 3 display is ON. Event goers will find the best viewing along Judd Street, from Berkey Street to north to downtown, and some good views in Burris Park. As in past years, the Osceola & St. Croix Valley Railway is making a special evening trip to Marine on St. Croix for the fireworks. Tickets are limited for those who wish to be chugging and choo-chooing across the river on July 3 at 7:30 p.m.
Forest Lake
Stillwater
Forest Lake’s Fourth of July celebration spans over a week long, with patriotic-themed events of some capacity set up from Saturday, June 29 to Sunday, July 7. On the day itself, festivities are held from practically dusk until dawn, including the parade, reading of the Declaration of Independence, and hours of live music. The oohs and ahhs will conclude the day at 10 p.m. at Lakeside Memorial Park.
If you like your fireworks with a side of jazz, the St. Croix Jazz Orchestra will be playing in Pioneer Park from 7-9 p.m. on the Fourth preceding the fireworks show at 10 p.m. at Lowell Park. The display can also be seen from St. Croix River Cruises’ Fireworks Dinner Cruise, which boards from 98 Walnut Street in Hudson and lasts from 8-11 p.m. on the Fourth. For more information on the cruise, visit stcroixrivercruises.com
Amery
Hudson
Treat yourself to not one but two fireworks shows in Amery this Independence Day weekend. Saturday, June 29 will see the Wanderoos Independence Day Celebration, which also includes a 5k, the Grand Parade and a chicken dinner. Fireworks begin at dusk in the Wanderoos Ball Park along Highway 65 and will be followed by a street dance. On the Fourth, meanwhile, the Amery Fireworks Spectacular will kick off at dusk at Soldiers Field.
Booster Days, Hudson’s Fourth of July celebration, goes from July 3-7. From the coronation of a new Hudson Ambassadors Court to the Hillbilly Science Show, there is plenty of family-friendly entertainment to be found here. Fireworks will be held at dusk over the St. Croix River on Friday, July 5. These can also be witnessed from St. Croix River Cruises’ Fireworks Dinner Cruise, which on this night runs from 8-11:45 p.m.
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EVAN JOHNSON AND GENE DI LORENZO
After some uncertainty in finding a suitable launch site, Marine on St. Croix’s annual July 3 display is ON. Event goers will find the best viewing along Judd Street, from Berkey Street to north to downtown, and some good views in Burris Park.
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