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John entered the Air Force Reserve, and was enlisted for another 22 years.

In all that time, John and Peggy have learned a few things about how to strike the right balance in a marriage of 50 years.

“She has things she likes to do, I have things I like to do,” John said.

“But then we have things that we enjoy doing together. She lets me go my way, I let her go her way. It’s just been a nice balance.”

“I’m very talkative and he’s real quiet, but the more we’re married, you just appreciate you’re each other’s balance,” Peggy said. “We laugh a lot and have a good time. Don’t stop dating and don’t stop holding hands.”

Both expressed their gratitude to their friends and family, showing up to support them even in a difficult time.

“We were just glad we could do something, even if it was scaled down,” Peggy said.

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Danielle Harley thought it was a funny coincidence that the White Bear Lake doctor she’d chosen to deliver her third child happened to be from the same town where she was born in Iowa.

“I looked up his bio, and it said he practiced in Burlington, Iowa,” Harley said. “I thought, small world, that’s where I’m from, and I texted my mom. She texted me up a little later and said wait a minute, is that Dr. Anderson?”

It turned out that Dr. Matthew Anderson was the same doctor who delivered Harley in 1994.

Dr. Anderson practiced in Burlington for 22 years before he moved to Minnesota. He joined AALFA Family Clinic in White Bear Lake in 2010, which is where Harley found his profi le.

Anderson also delivered Harley’s older brother, and her mother liked him so much that she scheduled an induction to make sure he could deliver Harley as well. If not for a 48-hour shift change, he would also have delivered Harley’s sister.

“My mom was like, you have to have him be your doctor,” Harley said.

Baby Benjamin, Harley’s third child, arrived on April 16 at St. John’s Hospital

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Washington County Sheriff’s Office

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Washington County Sheriff’s Office Has the department/ agency changed any training, policies or approved restraints since the death of George Floyd? Please explain.

With the civil unrest that occurred after the death of Mr. Floyd last summer, we did review our policies and

procedures to make sure they aligned with what is expected by the public.

Specifically highlighted in the media since the George Floyd incident is the use of the neck restraint. We have not trained in any form of neck restraints for many years and they are considered deadly force per our policies. Our use of force policy matches that of the Minnesota Peace Officer Standards and Training model policy. We have always been transparent with our policies and procedures, we have a link on our website to make our policies easily accessible. All of our deputies receive

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training in Crisis Intervention. This training provides deputies the verbal skills to deescalate situations as our goal is to only use force as a last resort.

Here is a link to our policies for your review: co.washington.mn.us/468/ Sheriffs-Office

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How has the political, pandemic or racial climate affected your agency?

The pandemic has been a challenge for us, as it has been for everyone, from how we approach our response SEE PROTECT AND SERVE, PAGES 8-9

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AWARDS: Hugo firefighters recognized for exemplary service PAGE 8

Nuptials gone awry: Coping with COVID-19

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((coincidentally, i id t ll the th same hospital where his father, Ryan, was born in 1995). Harley was extremely happy with having Anderson as her doctor.

“He’s phenomenal,” she said. “He is the most calm doctor. I was trying for a vaginal birth after cesarean, and he was super supportive of me. He took really good care and lots of precautions to make sure that baby and I were both fi ne.

After a 30-hour labor, Benjamin’s heart rate started to do crazy things and it ended up a C-section. But I felt completely safe. He’s unlike normal doctors.

He comes into the office the moment you go into labor and doesn’t leave until the baby is born.

He’s so aware of the situation. I could not rave about him more.”

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Molly and Chris Seven weeks before Molly Lund and Chris Kieger were supposed to say “I do,” everything turned upside down.

Lund grew up in Hugo and Kieger in White Bear Lake. They are both White Bear Lake grads (2009 and 2008, respectively). They became engaged in August 2020. Lund is a site manager for Kids Club at Rice Lake Elementary School in Lino Lakes, and Kieger is a document control specialist at Sensata Technologies in White Bear Lake.

The Forest Lake residents were planning to get married at a small ceremony at a resort up north on April 30. In March, they found out they would need to cancel and start their venue search all over again.

Lund explained that after the couple had

SEE REHBEIN PROPERTY, PAGE 3

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Molly Lund and Chris Kieger will get married April 30 despite a last minute change of plans.

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HUGO — Residents will have an ice cream shop much closer to home just in time for summer.

Hugo residents Josh and Nicole Korus plan to open an ice cream shop called Booms, located at 14869 Forest Blvd N. in Hugo.

“We knew we wanted to start our own businesses during the pandemic,” Nicole explained. Nicole is a stay-at-home mother of their five children, who range in age from 2-13. Josh is a certified public accountant (CPA) who was tired of

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Above: Dr. Matthew Anderson delivered Danielle Harley at a hospital in Burlington, Iowa in 1994, and Harley’s third child Benjamin April 16, 2021 at St. John’s Hospital.

Below: Benjamin wears his father Ryan Harley’s shirt, which says “I stepped into this world at St. John’s Hospital.” Benjamin was born at St. John’s Hospital in 2021 and his father Ryan was born at St. John’s in 1995.

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36% of couples decided to still have their wedding during the pandemic

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR

It wouldn’t be a Thursday without a visit from Grandpa Don. For 10 years, White Bear Lake resident Don Moore — also known as Grandpa Don — has visited teacher Amy Corner’s students at Oneka Elementary School in Hugo.

“He has been doing a read-

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2 in 3 couples had to postpone their wedding due to COVID-19

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of couples are of couples are still planning to downsize planning to host a their guest list destination wedding

M

arissa Blahnik “I was incredibly has lived in White lucky in that I didn’t Bear Lake for the lose anyone directly on past 13 years, but that terrible day. Sept. grew up in New Jersey. On 11, 2001, stands out in Sept. 11, 2001, at the age of my mind as a turning 22, Blahnik was living in point, both individually northern New Jersey and and collectively. I can commuted to Midtown, only imagine how people New York, for her job at who were more directly Court TV. impacted must feel, and She has kept two emails I hold them and their she sent in the wake of the families in my thoughts event 20 years ago that as we mark this tragic details her experience anniversary.” and reflections in the SEE 20 YEARS LATER, PAGE 13 aftermath of 9/11, and she shared them with Press accompanied by these comments: BY THE NUMBERS: “I had already completed my commute associated with the 19 militants and was sitting in an edit Islamic extremist group al suite with some colleagues Qaeda hijacked 4 planes when someone ran in and said to put on the TV. It 2 planes were flown into the Twin Towers of the World Trade wasn’t clear what was Center in New York happening yet — if I recall correctly, initially it was plane hit the Pentagon just 1 reported as one plane and outside Washington, D.C. an unfortunate accident.

That quickly changed, and 1 plane crashed in a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania we watched together as the second plane hit and people were killed during the 3,000 terrorist then later as the towers attacks collapsed. I remember fi nally getting through to 8:45 — the time an American my mother on the phone a.m. Airlines Boeing 767 crashed to let her know I was OK. I into the north tower remember deciding to stay 9:45 — the time American Airlines at the office all day rather a.m. Flight 77 crashed into the west than wait for hours in line side of the Pentagon to take a ferry home — the bridges and tunnels were 110 stories made up the skyscrapers closed to cars, and the only minutes after the first way off the island was on a plane hit, a second Boeing 18 boat or on foot.

767 sliced into the south day I typed up Come in and see our“The vast next assortment of annual flowers and plants tower my experience and shared veggies and herbs • perennial plants and it with friends and family. military personnel and 125 shrubs I’ve kept our a printout all these Choose from beautiful selection ofcivilians were killed in the years and have retyped it.

Pentagon attack

later

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM LEAD EDITOR

Later this week, north metro residents could have another option to be vaccinated close to home.

The Lino Lakes City Council has approved a resolution authorizing city staff to enter into a license agreement with the state of Minnesota to use the YMCA building/future recreation center, as a COVID-19 vaccination site.

Jamie Wallerstedt, of the State Emergency Operations Center, thanked city staff for working so quickly to get the site up and running. “Staff really responded well, fast, were very willing to talk about all of our ideas to bring this vaccination site to your community,” she said at the March 30 special meeting. “We are really looking forward to having this opportunity for your city, your county and the surrounding communities in the north metro.”

Last winter, the city was approached by the state to possibly use the YMCA facility as a testing facility, but nothing ever transpired.

Community Development Director Michael Grochala explained that under the agreement, which runs from April 5 through June 30, the state has agreed to pay up to $81,099 for use of the facility. The SEE VACCINATION SITE, PAGE 9

A ‘constant’ grandpa marks decade in Oneka classroom

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Source: 2020 American Wedding Study from brides.com

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81% feel the pandemic has changed their expectations for their wedding

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aloud in my class every Thursday, pretty much all year-round, in all kinds of weather. He is as constant as the rising sun,” Corner explained.

Moore is a retired teacher and principal. His career brought him to many places, including Africa, where he and his late wife Trudy taught at a missionary school.

Corner met the Moores at Eagle Brook Church in White Bear

Lake, where the Moores’ grandson attended Corner’s Sunday School class. Corner also happened to be their grandson’s first grade teacher at Oneka Elementary. Trudy started volunteering in Corner’s class and asked if there were any jobs that her husband could help with. The two regularly started visiting the school together even after their grandson — who is now a senior

in high school — moved on from elementary school.

Trudy passed away at the age of 65 after a battle with an aggressive cancer in August 2012. “I picked it up and have been there ever since,” Don Moore said.

Before the pandemic, Moore would visit the classroom every Thursday afternoon to read SEE GRANDPA DON, PAGE 10

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As each year comes to an end, it is a tradition of The Citizen to look back at some of the most memorable stories of the year.

Although we would all like to “get back to normal,” the COVID-19 pandemic persists.

School board meetings continue to draw a crowd.

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PERENNIALS AND SHRUBS

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Q. Tell us a little about yourself.

A. I currently reside in Hugo with my

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Second graders in Amy Corner’s class enjoy story time with Don Moore, also known as Grandpa Don.

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Melissa Steussy

Press Publications recently interviewed Hugo resident Melissa Steussy about the publication of her fi rst book, “Let Your Privates Breathe.”

Steussy has been working on writing a memoir for the last decade.

Once the pandemic hit, she had some extra time on her hands and decided to hire an editor to look over the 60,0000-plus words she had written so far. Ultimately, they decided to start over.

Her memoir, titled, “Let Your Privates Breathe,” is a young woman's message of hope and triumph after breaking a long cycle of addiction and unhealthy habits.

Steussy tells of her struggles to fi nd freedom after being raised in an unpredictable home environment, and trying to fi nd love and stability in all the wrong places.

When she is court-ordered to Alcoholics Anonymous after a DUI, Steussy is forced to take responsibility for her actions and her journey of self-love and healing begins. Melissa not only shares her trials and struggles throughout her recovery and active addiction, but celebrates her breakthroughs and the beautiful connection she develops with herself, her family and her community.

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Yes, residents and business owners in Centerville and Lino Lakes have concerns about the biggest project to hit Centerville in the past 20 years.

But what has really drawn collective ire is the feeling that news about such an enormous project was being kept from them.

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How has the number of calls your agency responded to changed during the past year?

The number of calls we respond to has remained consistent as in the previous year.

How many staff are in your department today? How does this compare to 2020?

We have 267 full -time staff at the Sheriff’s Office with 115 of them being sworn deputies. Along with this group of dedicated employees, we have dozens of volunteer staff that support our agency in many

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areas. We have the same number of employees now as we did in 2020.

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Project and inadequate notice irks residents

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HUGO — Some residents hope the City Council will reconsider both the proposed trail along 147th Street and the location of the skate park within Lions Park.

As construction season quickly approaches, the city of Hugo is working to solidify plans for not only the 2021 proposed downtown street project, but also the improvements at Lions Park.

The street reconstruction project is slated to include 147th Street (west of Hwy 61 to Finale Avenue); Flay Avenue (from 147th Street north to the cul-de-sac); Finley Avenue (from 145th Street to Upper 146th Street); Fitzgerald Avenue (from 146th Street to 147th Street); Upper 146th Street (from Finale Avenue to Fitzgerald Avenue); and 146th Street (from Finale Avenue to Hwy 61).

The project will also include the new construction of 147th Street from Finale Avenue to Oneka Parkway through existing fields, and the removal of Finale Avenue from Upper 146th Street to 147th Street.

The existing portion of Finale Avenue bisects expanded Lions Park and will be removed. The developer of Hugo Gardens will construct the new alignment on the west side of the park.

The street reconstruction project is estimated to cost $3.66 million; $264,840 of that will come from assessments. Per the city’s assessment policy, benefiting residential properties will be charged $5,200 per unit.

Five residents attended the public hearing for the project March 1. One main

Unless the judge delays it, this week the televised trial of Derek Chauvin begins, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with the killing of George Floyd. His death on Chicago Avenue still echoes across the country, and puts Chauvin and a metro police department on trial for use-of-force.

In the northeast suburbs, neighborhood policing is routine. Many suburban departments are using this time to examine how they train and restrain.

Press Publications asked five local and county departments about how they train and policies on restraining to give suburban residents perspective how local police departments respond.

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The couple hugs after a brief ceremony conducted by St. Mary of the Lake Catholic Church Pastor Ralph Talbot.

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John and Peggy first met at a hockey game at Aldrich Arena in 1967, when Peggy was a senior in high school and John was newly graduated.

“Her best friend was going with my brother,” John said. “That was where we kind of caught sight of each other.”

The pair ended up going to Jerry’s Drive-In on White Bear Avenue together, and hit it off. They were already engaged when John deployed to Vietnam with the U.S. Air Force.

From May of 1968, the pair sent letters back and forth while Peggy planned the wedding for March 1971. They were able to visit each other in Hawaii in October 1970, and learned just a few weeks later that John was being sent home early—American forces were being withdrawn from Vietnam under President Richard Nixon. The Parenteaus’ wedding ended up being abruptly shifted three months sooner, but with a little creative thinking and help from friends and family, the wedding took place on Jan. 23, 1971.

Peggy recalled every detail of the day: they were married at the church at 10:30 in the morning, followed by a family meal at the parish center. Then, off to Como Conservatory for wedding photos, and a reception at the Rod and Gun Club.

A week later, John and Peggy were in Alexandria, Louisiana, where John was stationed at the England Air Force base. After four years of service were up, the Parenteaus returned to White Bear Lake. Eleven years later,

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Residents voice trail, skate park concerns

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Getting Frisbees and paper airplanes thrown at you outside the church where you were married is not the usual way for anniversary celebrations to go, but that is exactly how John and Peggy Parenteau of White Bear Lake celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.

The Parenteaus had originally planned a party with 250 guests for the occasion, but the risks of COVID-19 put a dent in this long-awaited plan.

Instead, Peggy’s lifelong friend and sister-in-law Mary Parenteau, with the help of John and Peggy’s daughter, came up with a different kind of celebration—a drive-by anniversary. Guests were invited to drive past the gathering to shout their congratulations and toss their well wishes written on pop-open Frisbees and folded paper planes.

Father Frank Talbot was able to provide a blessing, both in the Parenteaus’ driveway near the church and later at the drive-by celebration.

“I felt just blessed we were able to see all these people and go out with our family, to go to church together,” Peggy said. “I know so many people that have gotten their 50th anniversary blessed via the computer, or have somebody sick so they can’t even go get it. We feel lucky we’re healthy and be able to do as much as we did.”

Following the celebration, the Parenteaus were able to share a special dinner with their children, grandchildren and one greatgrandchild at Tinucci’s Restaurant in

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HUGO — A refi ned design for Lions Park has been presented to the City Council. It may come with a $7 million price tag.

The City Council has approved the design for the park and pavilion. Last fall, three stakeholder committees were formed to design the playground, pavilion and overall site. Each of the committees met at least three times to discuss priorities and develop a design concept.

Matt Lysne, of HCM Architects, and Candace Amberg, of WSB, presented the results of those stakeholder committee groups to the council Feb. 1.

The pavilion, which is estimated to cost roughly $2.8 million, would include a large community gathering room, covered picnic shelter, large and small meeting rooms, indoor and outdoor restrooms, storage space and a concession area with an outside service window. The building would have a modern look designed to blend in well with City Hall.

Council Member Becky Petryk said, “I was envisioning a much more traditional building with a nod to our rural character … I’m surprised by the very modern take of the building.”

Council Member Mike Miron said he agreed that the design was not what he was expecting. “The pavilion design is different than what I expected it to be, but that doesn’t make it wrong or undesirable; it just isn’t what I had in mind,” he said. “But it has been vetted through the steering committee and Parks Commission, so I trust their judgment.”

Council Member Phil Klein added, “I know this is a new look, a new vision, but in some respects I kind of like it. I think it will be helpful to have some new design to show the forward thinking of our community as we continue to grow.”

The rest of the park will feature an inclusive playground, trails, green space, fire pit, different kinds of seating and more. The design also includes space for a double pickleball court, half basketball court and a tennis court. The park improvements are estimated to cost $4.2 million, not including the $278,000 estimate for the development of the sport court area.

“We wanted to create a lot of opportunities to support the great park activities as well as what may be going on in the building,” Amberg explained.

The current play structure, which was replaced in 2018, will be relocated. At one point, the Parks Commission discussed relocating the equipment to Beaver Ponds Park, which is next on the list for replacements.

Miron, who sat on the playground stakeholder committee, said the group’s focus was on the playground space. “We wanted to have multiple areas for children to be able to play and grow in the park. The park can grow with them as they develop,” he explained. “We wanted families to feel safe and comfortable here, have places where they can supervise and watch

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The city of Hugo unexpectedly lost its longtime finance director, Ron Otkin.

The Centennial Fire District now has a partnership with the Spring Lake Park Blaine Mounds View Fire Department.

And large projects, both commercial and housing developments, continue to pop up in Centerville and Hugo.

SEE YEAR IN REVIEW, PAGES 10-13

Residents hope solution can be reached with local company Residents who live near Bald Eagle Industrial Park are hopeful a solution can be reached so they don’t have to deal with noise at all hours of the day.

Victor Land Holdings LLC has requested a conditional use permit (CUP) amendment and site plan to construct a 43,000-square-foot office,

warehouse building located in the northeast corner of the site. This building constitutes phase three, and the fourth phase is proposed to be a 12,000-square-foot office/warehouse building at the southeast corner of the property. The campus property total approximately 15 acres.

The project would also include the extension of 140th Street to the west property line.

manufacturing and warehouse building, which will be occupied by JL Schwieters for its floor and roof truss operations.

The campus development includes four phases. The fi rst phase of the development was construction of a 145,000-square-foot office, manufacturing and warehouse building. The second phase consisted of the 27,100-square-foot office/

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The Planning Commission held a public hearing earlier this month, and the City Council will consider the commission’s recommendation at its Jan. 3 meeting. During the public hearing, several residents who live near the Schwieters campus voiced their concerns with the existing building as well as the proposed building.

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“I would like a goldfish next year.”

“I wish there would be no viruses in the world.”

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“My wish would be that no one gets sick.”

“I wish for all COVID to end.”

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DECEMBER 30, 2021

THE CITIZEN www.readthecitizen.com

3

Arts CULTURE and

2021-22

“I LOVE TECHNICAL THEATER BECAUSE IT CREATES A BALANCE OF LIGHT, SOUND, AND EMOTION TO TURN AN ALREADY EXTRAORDINARY GROUP OF ACTORS INTO A SCENE THAT ENCOMPASSES EVERYTHING THAT THE STORY NEEDS IT TO BE AND MORE...”

JANUARY EVENTS

Explore upcoming Avenue of the Arts events with CPA, LPT and WBCA

SCOTT LLOYD ANDERSON LECTURE/DEMO January 12, 2022, 6:30-8:30 PM White Bear Center for the Arts Exhibiting Artist Scott Lloyd Anderson will talk about his training with teacher Frank Vincent Dumond and the “prismatic palette.”

LAKESHORE PLAYERS PRESENTS “CLUE”

Jan 13 -16, 21 - 23, 28 - 30 Hanifl Performing Arts Center, White Bear Lake Tickets at www.lakeshoreplayers.org Based on the iconic 1985 Paramount movie which was inspired by the classic Hasbro board game, ‘Clue’.

THE GAP BETWEEN WORLDS

-JOE WALD

JOE WALD| CONTRIBUTED JOE WALD, A SOPHOMORE AT MAHTOMEDI HIGH SCHOOL, IS LEARNING WHAT IT TAKES BEHIND THE SCENES TO MAKE THEATER COME TO LIFE.

T

he magic of theater takes many people, and not all of them spend their time in the spotlight. Joe Wald, a junior at Mahtomedi High School, is well on his way to becoming an accomplished theater technician behind the scenes.

“I love technical theater because it creates a balance of light, sound, and emotion to turn an already extraordinary group of actors into a scene that encompasses everything that the story needs it to be and more,” Wald said.

Wald got involved in theater when a friend encouraged him to audition for the 7th grade play, and he has been part of the performing arts community ever since. He started to explore the technical side of theater during his sophomore year.

Wald brought his backstage skills to Hanifl Performing Arts Center in spring of 2021.

“I’ve had to learn to problem solve quite a bit with every new show,” Wald said. “Because the requirements and setup for each show are different, it is a role that is constantly evolving. I’ve also had the privilege of

working with several groups of extremely knowledgeable and talented individuals who have helped me work as a team and taught me what I know about technical theater today.”

Wald expressed his gratitude for the many mentors he’s had along the way, especially the previous student lighting director at Mahtomedi. He has also learned a lot from working with the technical director and learning alongside friends at Mahtomedi.

“We could never do the work we do without working together as a family,” Wald said.

In fall 2021, Wald was stationed in the technical booth on the Mahtomedi production of “Chicago.” This was his first show as a lighting technician, as well as his first show occupying a leadership role. Wald worked alongside the technical director on the lighting design, helping bring the artistic vision to life and receiving his first mention from the Hennepin Theatre Trust’s Spotlight Education evaluators in the process.

Up next, Wald has signed on to be part of Mahtomedi’s winter production of “12 Angry Jurors.”

“My active role during the show is a little less than usual, but I get to teach other students about the workings of the technical side of theater,” Wald said. After graduation, he plans to continue with technical theater in a college setting, and maybe beyond.

“Confidence is just as important behind the scenes as it is under the lights,” Wald said. “Shaky hands or an unclear head could cause you to miss cues or accidentally press a button. Mistakes aren’t the end of the world, but they sure aren’t fun.”

SOLSTICE TRADITIONS

A

s the longest night Foundation and Lessons of they will not hear themselves of the year, winter Our Land, winter presents being talked about. solstice has held the best opportunity for Although there is debate immense meaning storytelling since all the about the exact origin of to many human traditional work of planting, the timing of the Christmas cultures over the holiday, it is notable course of history. that much of the Solstice traditions tradition focuses on often celebrate celestial events of the light and renewal, night sky. Namely, the corresponding to Star of Bethlehem the Earth’s shift said to herald the back toward longer, birth of Jesus Christ. warmer days.

This event has given Communal bonfires us timeless popular are one of the most songs that speak to common ways people the darkness of the celebrate the return season and coming of the sun. Every of the light, such as year, the Belwin “Silent Night,” “Do Conservancy in JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | CONTRIBUTED You See What I See,” Afton hosts a solstice AN ALMOST-FULL MOON HANGS OVER THE GIANT SOLSTICE “We Three Kings,” bonfire.

BONFIRE HOSTED BY THE BELWIN CONSERVANCY ON DEC. 20. and many more.

This year, the Many other bonfire featured student gathering and hunting holidays such as Kwanzaa, storytellers, singers and slows down, and outdoor Hanukkah and pagan drummers from the Ikidowin conditions become cold and festivals take place around Youth Acting Ensemble. inhospitable. Since many the same time as the solstice, In Ojibwe culture, winter animals hibernate, some suggesting that humans have is the traditional time for tribes believe winter is the always found a way to bond storytelling. According to best chance to tell stories together and celebrate hope the Indian Land Tenure about animal characters, so even in the darkest times.

January 20, 2022, 6:30-8:30 PM White Bear Center for the Arts Opening Reception Artists Amy Ballinger and Rebecca Krinke bring a shared interest in the fantastical space between physical and otherworldly realms to “The Gap Between Worlds.”

WINTER OPEN HOUSE

January 22, 2022, 1:00-3:00 PM White Bear Center for the Arts Join us for WBCA’s Winter Open House from 1:00-3:00 PM on January 22. There will be sled dogs, art activities, and a snow sculpture contest! All are welcome to this free event.

CHILDRENʼS PERFORMING ARTS SUMMER REGISTRATION Summer show - Grease, Aristocats, Pippin Registration opens Jan 24 Tickets at www. childrensperformingartsmn.org

CHILDRENʼS PERFORMING ARTS PRESENTS “ANNIE JR” Forest Lake High School, Forest Lake April 1-3 & 8-10 (sensory friendly preview show April 29th) With equal measures of pluck and positivity, little orphan Annie charms everyone’s hearts despite a next-tonothing start in 1930s New York City.

Tickets go on sale January 31.

JANUARY SCHOOL EVENTS

WBLAHS

WBLAHS

WBLAHS

WBLAHS

WBLAHS

MAHTOMEDI

January 11, 7:00 p.m.

CMS Band 8/Jazz 8/North Winds District Theater

January 13, 7:00 p.m.

CMS Band 6/ Band 7 District Theater

January 18, 7:00 p.m.

SPMS 8th and Wind Ensemble District Theater

January 20, 6:30/8:00 SPMS 6th - 6:30 /7th& Jazz - 8:00 District Theater

January 26, 7:00 p.m.

North & South Chamber Orchestras South Theater

February 4-6.

12 Angry Jurors Chautauqua Fine Arts Center

THEATER IS A HAVEN FOR NEURODIVERSITY

“

Neurodivergent” is a term becoming popular to describe those whose brain function and sensory experience of the world is different from the “typical” experience. This umbrella term includes conditions such as autism, ADHD, bipolar disorder, anxiety, depression and many others. “Neurodiversity” describes the wide variety of processing and learning styles.

There is a long-documented history of the link between creativity and neurodiversity. Many of our most revered musicians, actors and artists bring a unique perspective to light through their atypical experiences of the world.

As mental health becomes an increasingly approachable topic, more and more performers are acknowledging the effect that neurodivergent experiences have had on their art. Demi Lovato, Chris Evans, Kendrick Lamar are only a few of the well-known performers who have spoken up about challenges they’ve faced as neurodivergent people in the fast-paced, demanding world of entertainment. Tony-winning actress Audra McDonald shared in an article in TIME magazine that theater was a muchneeded outlet for her childhood ADHD, especially at a time when ADHD was not well understood.

Many other neurodivergent artists have shared the way in which music, theater and visual arts have helped them explore their own identities, given them a supportive community and allowed them to share their own creative view of the world.

In 2020, New York Times theater reviewer Jesse Green analyzed a performance of Samuel Beckett’s short monologue “Not I,” which cast Jess Thom, an actress who has Tourette’s syndrome, in the role of the complex character known only as “the mouth.”

Tourette’s causes uncontrollable tics, both physical and verbal, in those who have it. In this production, Green observed that Thom’s natural tics added another layer of depth to the meaning of the performance.

“Thom uses her position to explore something beyond just Tourette’s,” Green wrote.

“Shining a light into Beckett from a different angle, she illuminates a different part of the rest of us as well.”

But the world of the arts is still learning how to be fully supportive of neurodivergent creatives. There are still many barriers that can prevent them from having a meaningful experience.

Organizations such as the Neuk Collective in Scotland are working to create shared resources and increased representation for neurodiversity in the arts. The decades of stigma about different neurodivergent conditions can sometimes make or break important decisions such as casting. Last year, the Actor’s Equity Association hosted a panel titled “Theatre on the Spectrum: A Discussion on Neurodiversity.”

One of the panelists was Aubrie Therrien, Executive Director of EPIC Players, a neuro-inclusive theater company in Brooklyn.

“Representation is super important for any community; the disabled community is the largest minority in the world,” Therrien said. “Neurodiverse artists should be represented more broadly so students and kids living with autism or other neurodiversities can see themselves on stage and screen and say, I can be that.”

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EMERGING ARTIST JOE WALD

4

THE CITIZEN

www.presspubs.com

DECEMBER 30, 2021

Predictions you can bet on

W

ITH THE NEW year, what will our economic forecast be? The old brokers would say, “Just watch the first five days of January and that will tell you what the month will be like, and January will tell you what the year will be like.”

ONE OF THE traditions for Kathy and I is to deliver homemade cookies to each of our newspaper offices.

It’s an opportunity to say thank you and wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all of our dedicated staff, who like a lot of other people, have gone through a very difficult year asked our management staff what to expect and predict for 2022.

The following is a compilation of those questions and answers: • Inflation will continue. It has risen higher than it has for decades. It could be like the 70s when interest went to 20%. The Federal Reserve has already announced they expect to raise interest rates three times in 2022 and that should have a slowing effect.

• Petroleum or gasoline at the pump, heating oils and diesel fuel will likely settle down, but we need to open some pipelines and get our refineries up to previous levels so we could export rather than import.

About the • The virus will linger and there will be different mutations. As it spreads Town through more of the population and we get more vaccinated, it will begin Gene Johnson to die off.

• Small business, especially in the h it lit iindustry, d hospitality will continue to have challenges.

• We have noticed that the delinquent tax lists were down from last year. More people are conserving their cash, especially those above 60 years of age with the concern of the cost of care as they age.

• As salaries increase, businesses are looking at more ways for efficiencies. You have probably noticed a lot of fast food places are encouraging online orders.

More people are being cross-trained to be able to handle a variety of jobs to help cover the shortage of employees and the difficulty in hiring.

• The great resignation that has been taking place across the nation is an indication that lifestyles are changing and household incomes are dropping.

People appear to be adjusting accordingly.

• Health care workers who have been under a lot of pressure for the last couple years are retiring, which is a serious concern as the pandemic continues.

• Supply chain interruptions will continue in 2022.

Grocery stores, hardware stores and others who depend on the supply chain are not getting their orders filled and are finding it difficult to have preprints distributed when their customers will not find all of the specials available.

• Home prices continue to increase significantly, in many cases faster than inflation driven by low mortgage rates, which will likely move up as the feds increase the interest rates.

• Pricing of medical care continues to rise as so many of the facilities are now operated like big business.

• Social media will continue even though over 70% of the population has indicated they do not trust the information on many of the social media venues.

• Newspapers and their websites will continue to work harder to bring essential news to their readers even though many of the staffs have been depleted.

• The federal government will have more difficulty in passing spending bills with the high debt that has accumulated. Political parties will continue to battle and it will not always be in the interest of the American people.

• Crime will continue, especially in large cities, but it is also moving into the suburbs.

Keep the faith. Predictions like this have been made many times over and we grow and survive, but at times it appears to me as Americans we are losing freedoms, our democracy and our moral fiber. Keep praying.

Gene Johnson is publisher emeritus of Press Publications.

Distributed and mailed bi-weekly in: • Hugo • Centerville • Lino Lakes P.O. Box 393 Hugo, MN 55038 www.ReadTheCitizen.com

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FTC asked to investigate allegations Facebook misled customers, public U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Washington), chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation, wrote Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Chair Lina Khan to urge the FTC to investigate allegations Meta/ Facebook misled its advertising customers and the public in its claims about ensuring brand safety and the reach of its advertisements, in violation of federal law prohibiting unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce. Here is a copy of the letter:

D

ear Chair Khan: I am writing regarding allegations that Meta (f/k/a Facebook, hereinafter “Facebook”) may have violated the Federal Trade Commission Act’s prohibition against unfair or deceptive acts or practices in trade or commerce, and to urge the FTC to commence an investigation into these matters.

Recent revelations and public documentation suggest that Facebook may have misled its advertising customers and the public about Movers & its processes for ensuring brand Shakers safety and about the reach of its Maria Cantwel advertisements, both core aspects b k’ business b off F Facebook’s model.

Facebook’s representations to advertisers take on even greater importance given Facebook’s large share of the digital advertising space.

As the Senate Commerce Committee detailed in a 2020 report, Facebook reportedly controlled approximately 74% of the social media market and now reportedly controls 24.1% of all of U.S. digital advertising spending; Facebook’s dominant position in the ad marketplace means that advertisers and publishers, including struggling local news outlets all over the country, may have faced unfair competition by Facebook, impacting their revenues and ability to compete online.

Facebook has long made claims

about the safety of its product for brands, and even more importantly, about the safety of its product for Facebook users. Facebook’s Community Standards Enforcement Report states that its algorithms remove 97% of the content it eventually takes down for hate speech before the content is posted.

But this metric could significantly misrepresent the effectiveness of Facebook’s algorithms, as whistleblower documents show that Facebook believes that its processes miss more than 90% of hate speech content despite being 97% effective at catching the hate speech Facebook eventually takes down. Facebook may thus have made material misrepresentations or omissions to advertisers regarding the effectiveness of its brand safety controls, including its ability to remove criminal content.

Until quite recently, Facebook offered prospective advertisers two key measures of an ad’s potential success — (1) Potential Reach; and (2) Estimated Daily Reach.

Potential Reach (which is an element of Estimated Daily Reach) approximates the number of people in a particular area who may view a business’ ad and, according to Facebook, is “arguably the single most important number in our ads creation interfaces.” Understandably then, advertisers of all sizes plan and budget for campaigns that maximize their ads’ Potential Reach, as estimated by Facebook. However, public reporting as well as Facebook’s own statements and documents seem to indicate that Facebook may have known that Potential Reach metrics may have been inaccurate. Public analyses from as far back as 2017 show how Facebook claimed that its ads could have a Potential Reach that exceeded the population of 18- to 34-year-olds counted in each of the 50 states by the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Commission may allege deception under Section 5 of the FTC Act prohibiting unfair and deceptive practices in or affecting commerce, “if there is a representation, omission or practice that is likely to mislead the consumer acting reasonably in the circumstances, to the consumer’s detriment.” Thus, because evidence

suggests that Facebook may have deceived its advertising customers about its brand safety and advertising metrics, Facebook may have engaged in deceptive practices in violation of the FTC Act. In addition, the public information suggests that Facebook’s potential misrepresentations about brand safety and advertising metrics may be unfair, as well as deceptive. In evaluating whether the conduct is unfair, the Commission may consider (1) that the advertising purchased by brands due to Facebook’s brand safety and advertising representations are “significant,”; (2) the absence of material countervailing benefits to competition and consumers from any misrepresentations of advertising metrics; and (3) that, given that Facebook employs a walled garden system, advertisers could not have independently verified Facebook’s reported brand safety activities, ad metrics, or reasonably avoided advertising on Facebook, much less given Facebook’s market dominance.

A thorough investigation by the Commission and other enforcement agencies is paramount, not only because Facebook and its executives may have violated federal law, but because members of the public and businesses are entitled to know the facts regarding Facebook’s conduct as they make their decisions about using the platform.

I urge the FTC to immediately commence an investigation into Facebook’s representations with respect to brand safety, Potential Reach, and similar metrics with respect to its advertising business and, if that investigation reveals that the company has in fact violated the law, to pursue all available sanctions as appropriate. Such actions could include action under Section 19 of the FTC Act or partnering with state attorneys general in an appropriate court to pursue monetary relief for Facebook’s advertisers and disgorgement of Facebook’s ill-gotten gains, a strategy the Commission has pursued in other recent cases.

Contributed by America’s Newspapers and U.S. Sen. Maria Cantwel

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5

THE CITIZEN www.readthecitizen.com

LETTER TO THE EDITOR

NAMES IN THE NEWS

The new job I am starting Jan. 1 does not offer health insurance for the fi rst month. The COBRA that I could get through my current employer is way too expensive. I applied for and received insurance through MNsure. Thank God for the Affordable Care Act (ACA).

However, I noticed MNsure insurers charge more to smokers.

Minnesotans who choose not to get vaccinated for COVID-19 should be charged higher insurance rates, just as smokers are charged higher rates.

There is plenty of evidence that the unvaccinated are much more likely to catch COVID-19 and need more intensive care. There should be a proof of vaccination for MNsure insurance.

The practice of charging tobacco users more is called tobacco rating. The ACA allows for insurance companies to charge smokers up to 50% more (or premiums that are 1.5 times higher) than nonsmokers through a tobacco surcharge.

Taxpayers should not be asked to fi nancially support the unvaccinated.

Will Perry Hugo

WEEKLY WAG

Steve Cox, owner of Key Automotive in Hugo, is on his road to recovery and finally in the comforts of his home. Cox contracted COVID-19 on Thanksgiving and landed in St. Croix Falls Regional Medical Center for an extended stay, battling pneumonia and other ailments caused by the coronavirus. He’s on his road to recovery at home in Osceola, Wisconsin, resting under the care of his wife and daughter.

CALENDAR BRIEF University of Minnesota Extension offers SowBridge classes

CONTRIBUTED

Forest Lake Masons (from left:) Tom Croce, Cory McKinnon and Michael Perreault present a $2,500 check to the Forest Lake Area Children’s Fund.

The Forest Lake Masons recently presented a check to the Forest Lake Area Children’s Fund (FLACF) for donations collected during a Sunday brunch drive-thru event. All donations collected during the event were matched by the Masons. The FLACF uses these donations to provide new warm winter clothing for the children of the Forest Lake Area School District.

HUGO TREE CARE Specializing in Difficult Removal

Registration is now open for SowBridge, an online educational series through the University of Minnesota Extension for people involved in caring for sows, their litters and boars, including operation owners, caretakers, technicians, managers and technical service providers. There will be 12 monthly sessions scheduled for the fi rst Wednesday of the month from 11:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. Registration is due Jan. 18. The fi rst session begins Feb. 2. For more information on sessions or to register, contact Sarah Schieck Boelke at 320235-0726 ext. 2004 or at schi0466@umn.edu.

CHURCH DIRECTORY Find the church that fits your needs Service times are subject to change during the coronavirus crisis. Contact your local church or check church web sites for service time and online service information.

Sunday Join us onWorship Sunday: 10:15Livestreaming am in-person Worship on and Live-streaming on YouTube: FPCWBL YouTube: FPCWBL

651-429-4705

5th and Bloom Ave, White Bear Lake • 651-429-3381 • www.fpcwbl.org

www.hugotree.com Certified Arborist

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Puff the Magic Dragon (typically just called Puff) is a little go-getter.

This 14-pound terrier mix is about 9 months old. Puff is intelligent, goofy, affectionate and eager to please. He is still a puppy and likes to do puppy things, but he’s quick to learn, especially when treat rewards are involved.

Puff is happy to be a little shadow and he also loves to be carried.

Being so young, Puff is high energy, and will need a forever family that will be patient and willing to spend the time to teach him how to be the best boy he can be. Puff is very social and likes to play with other dogs of all sizes, and his foster mom believes he would do well with cats, too. If you are interested in adopting Puff and would like to learn more about him, please fi ll out an application at www.ruffstartrescue.org. Once your application is received, Ruff Start Rescue will contact you as soon as possible.

Centennial Fire District (CFD) Battalion Chief Darren Eckart saved a life earlier this month while he attended a basketball game. Eckart was off duty at his daughter’s basketball game at White Bear Lake High School South Campus when he received a Pulse Point Activation on his mobile phone notifying him of a person nearby in cardiac arrest.

Eckart responded to the location in the school and assisted bystanders in lifesaving efforts.

Due to personal privacy rules, CFD Chief Charlie Smith couldn’t share much more information about the incident, but from what he has been told, the person survived the incident.

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9:00 a.m. Worship, 10:30 a.m. Education Hour for All Ages, Worship and Bible Study are also available through our YouTube Channel The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid? Psalm 27:1

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6

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THE CITIZEN

www.readthecitizen.com

DECEMBER 30, 2021

HUGO POLICE REPORTS The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents: • A Minnesota motorist was cited at 10:53 a.m. Nov. 21 in the 10000 block of 170th Street N. for speeding 72 mph in a 55 mph zone by Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies, who clocked him on radar.

The motorist admitted to only 10 miles over the speed limit.

• A resident in the 5000 block of Farnham Drive N. at 11:15 a.m. Nov. 21 reported his garage door opened four times the previous day when he wasn’t at home.

After the complainant told deputies he believed someone had access to his keypad code, he promised to change it. Nothing was stolen from the garage.

• A resident in the 15000 block of Glenbrook Avenue N. at 7:03 a.m. Nov. 22 reported a woman against whom he had taken out a harassment restraining order (HRO) for calling his cell phone 18 times and leaving two voicemails. The subject never left her name, the complainant said, but he recognized her voice. Although deputies left the suspect a voicemail, she never returned their call. So, they mailed her a citation for violating a no-contact order and making harassing telephone calls.

• A resident in the 4000 block of Victor Path N. at 9:47 a.m. Nov. 22 reported a lawn maintenance worker for damaging the passenger side rear door of his pickup truck with a backpack leaf blower. When deputies

Scams and frauds

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call from a party claiming to be a WCSO deputy informing her that she missed jury duty. When she hung up on the caller, she received a text from the same number moments later stating that she had warrants out for her arrest. The complainant just wanted the scam call documented.

• A resident in the 6000 block of 145th Street at 7:04 a.m. June 10 reported being scammed out of $8,000 in FlipCoin to supposedly bail her son out of jail. The victim said she also texted pictures of her driver’s license and Social Security card to a female who claimed to be from FlipCoin.

• A resident in the 13000 block of Europa Trail N. at 9:50 a.m. June 10 reported receiving a text displaying a picture of dismembered bodies and demanding money or his family would be killed. The text also included a list of family member names.

When deputies viewed the text, they discovered that the picture was a stock photo off the internet and told the complainant it was all a scam to get money. The complainant said he didn’t respond to the text and also believed it was a scam. Deputies photographed the text with their body cameras for their files.

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‘Tis the Season for the Reason’ The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents involving excuses for bad driving behavior in 2021 — along with the occasional display of candor: • A motorist was cited at 4:51 p.m.

Dominic Smith, junior from White Bear Lake, had an outstanding college football season for Augsburg and was named to the All-MIAC and All-Region 6 teams.

Working with quarterback Cade Sheehan of Rochester, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound wide receiver led the MIAC with 14 touchdowns. Smith ranked second with 69 catches and third with 1,000 yards. His 14 touchdown receptions are tied for eighth-most among all NCAA Division III players nationally, while he ranks in the top 30 nationally in receptions per-game (23rd), receiving yardage per-game (21st) and total receiving yards (28th). He was a secondteam pick for all-region, which includes five conferences.

Augsburg was 4-4. Smith had 13 catches for 212 yards in a 46-38 opening loss to Ripon (Wisconsin). He tied a team record with four TD’s in a 56-28 win over St. Olaf. Also the backup punter, he averaged 35.3 yards on 10 punts.

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told deputies they didn’t want anything done about it and would clean it up themselves, after deputies responded to the scene of a disturbance at 12:15 a.m.

Nov. 24.

• A resident in the 12000 block of July Avenue N. at 9:06 a.m. Nov. 24 reported egg remnants and SpaghettiO’s all over her mailbox. The caller said she couldn’t think of any suspects, nor did she have any cameras pointed toward the mailbox. She stated that she just wanted a report on file in case any other residents experienced strange deposits on their property overnight.

• The driver of a dark sedan was cited at 9:28 p.m. Nov 24 in the area of 149th Street N. and Fairpoint Drive N. for displaying tabs that expired in January 2021, following a traffic stop for that violation and for so many lanyards dangling from the rearview mirror that they obstructed her vision. Deputies described the driver as having such a bad attitude that she complained that deputies didn’t also cite her for obstructed view and snapped that she knew about the expired registration but didn’t have time to reregister her vehicle.

• The Blue Heron in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 10:30 p.m. Nov. 25 reported a burglary with nothing taken.

Dec. 30 on Freedom Drive N. and Farnham Avenue N. for failure to stop at the posted four-way stop sign at northbound Oneka Parkway N. and Farnham Avenue N. before turning right on northbound Farnham Avenue. The driver told deputies he thought he had already stopped.

A motorist was cited at 5:09 p.m.

Jan. 2 on Oneka Parkway N. and Farnham Avenue N. for failure to stop at the stop sign. The driver claimed to have stopped, then blamed the slick conditions near the stop sign, although the weather was clear and dry.

A Minnesota motorist was cited at 7:47 a.m. March 5 on eastbound 170th Street N. and Keystone Avenue N. for speeding 71 mph in a 55 mph zone as he passed another vehicle. The driver said he didn’t know how fast he was going.

A westbound driver was cited at 7:48 a.m. March 20 on 170th Street N. and Ingersoll Avenue N. for speeding 70 mph in a 55 mph zone by east-facing deputies on stationary patrol, who clocked him on radar. The driver claimed responsibility for only 63 of those mph.

A Minnesota motorist was cited at 7:58 a.m. April 11 on westbound 170th Street N. and Ingersoll Avenue N. for speeding 72 mph in a 55 mph zone by eastbound deputies on patrol, who clocked her on radar. The driver admitted she wasn’t paying attention.

The driver of a white Subaru was cited at 6:55 p.m. June 2 on westbound Frenchman Road and southbound Forest Blvd. N. for running a red light, after deputies observed him turn right at that intersection without stopping first. The driver admitted to actively choosing to run the red light, saying he “did it safely because no cars were moving through the intersection at that moment” and “it happens all the time.”

Bizarre days in the lives of Washington County Sheriff’s Office deputies

Dominic Smith

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The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following scams and frauds in 2021: • A resident in the 7000 block of 177th Street N. at 12:53 p.m. March 5 reported a male with a Spanish accent claiming to be from an attorney’s office informing him his grandson had been arrested. The caller gave the complainant information on how to get his grandson out on bail, but it would require $8,600 in cash. The complainant recognized the infamous grandparent scam and hung up on the caller without monetary loss.

• A resident in the 4000 block of Rosemary Way N. at 1:42 p.m. April 6 reported receiving a phone call from a male claiming to be from law enforcement saying the complainant had an arrest warrant out on him. The complainant provided no information or money to the caller.

• A resident in the 14000 block of Generation Avenue N. at 11:57 a.m.

April 7 reported receiving a call from a male claiming to be a Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) sergeant, saying that the complainant had missed out on a court date and had two warrants out for her arrest.

The spurious sergeant said that she needed to pay a certain amount of money to have the warrants dismissed. The complainant was on to the scam and lost no money.

• A resident in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue N. at 12:33 p.m.

April 8 reported receiving a phone

•

met with the worker, he denied causing the damage.

That’s when the supervisor came out to exchange insurance information with the complainant.

A resident in the 14000 block of Fondant Avenue N. at 3:14 p.m. Nov. 22 reported receiving an “obviously fraudulent” phone call suggesting she had a warrant out in her name. Because the scam attempt was so obvious to the complainant, she did not provide personal information or money and simply hung up the phone.

A resident in the 6000 block of Oneka Lake Blvd. N. at 11:11 a.m. Nov. 23 reported a male for harassing her and coming onto her property. Although the complainant told the male he was not welcome on her property, he continued to come back, pulling into her driveway and leaving after a few minutes.

After deputies advised the complainant to take out an HRO and gave her a case number, they searched for the suspect and conducted a traffic stop. When deputies advised the suspect that they assisted the complainant in taking out an HRO, the subject agreed to stay away from the complainant’s property.

The registered owner of a vehicle parked on 141st Street N. and Fondant Avenue was mailed a citation at 6:33 p.m. Nov. 23 for displaying an obstructed license plate.

Residents in the area of Fenway Avenue N. and 157th Street N., whose tree was wrapped in toilet paper,

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following incidents in 2021: • A resident in the 9000 block of 180th Street N. at 4:51 p.m. Dec. 8 reported his ex-spouse so that she could be arrested. When deputies pointed out that the complainant could not use the Washington County Sheriff’s Office to arrest his wife for no reason, he hung up on them.

• The driver of a vehicle that hit a mailbox and became stuck in the snowbank was cited at 9:10 a.m.

Loretta Harding Jan. 20 in the 12000 block of Ferrara Avenue N. for driving after revocation and failure to provide proof of insurance.

• A resident in the 5000 block of 145th Street N. at 3:40 p.m. Jan. 21 reported losing his Glock handgun after practicing dry firing in his room, putting the gun down and leaving his room for a few hours. When the gun turned up missing, the complainant and his mother searched the residence. When deputies offered to search for the weapon inside the home, the complainant objected strongly. Just to be sure, deputies conducted an NCIC search that came up empty.

• A juvenile arriving at an address in the 4000 block of Fable Road N. and leaving in a blue scooter at 9:07 p.m.

April 24 was reported for ringing the complainant’s doorbell, then mooning the complainant’s Ring camera.

Although the business end of the juvenile was not covered, the entire face of the subject was.

• A suspicious male playing guitar on the side of the road in the 8000 block of 130th Street N. at 6:43 p.m. July 28 turned out to be a person without apparent mental health issues who was serenading an injured bird while waiting for help to arrive for the bird.

Whew! That’s a relief!

Vigilant Hugo residents reported the following suspicious circumstances to the Washington County Sheriff’s Office in 2021 that turned out to be harmless: • Suspicious payments made by a scammed husband in the 13000 block of Europa Court N. at 12:21 p.m.

Jan. 27 turned out to be voluntary charitable contributions made willingly by him.

• A suspicious intoxicated male yelling outside a multifamily dwelling in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Blvd. N. at 1:49 a.m. Feb. 14 turned out to be a resident who was locked out of his unit and upset about how cold it was.

• Two males reported for prowling the area of Frenchman Road and Everton Avenue N. at 12:24 a.m. March 28 turned out to be juveniles walking back to their house from Kwik Trip.

Deputies called their chat with the youths an “educational encounter.”

Compiled by Loretta Harding

DECEMBER 30, 2021

www.readthecitizen.com

THE CITIZEN

7

HUGO BITS & PIECES • The City Council will not waive its statutory tort liability limits for 2022.

In the late 1990’s, the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) started requiring each city that obtained liability coverage from them to decide whether or not to waive the statutory tort liability limits to the extent of the coverage purchased. Currently, these limits are $500,000 per claimant and $1,500,000 per occurrence.

The city of Hugo does purchase $1 million in excess of the statutory limits because the tort limits may not apply to certain types of claims.

• Annually, the finance department reviews all delinquent utility bills, which are the result of nonpayment or underpayment of water and sewer utility bills. In accordance with city ordinance, the council is required to adopt a resolution to certify delinquent utility bills to the property tax rolls.

Property owners who have not paid their outstanding utility bill will have it certified to the property tax rolls.

The total amount of unpaid utility bills subject to assessment is $125,592, or 3.9% of the total amount billed in the last four calendar quarters. This is a slight increase from the 3.5% that was subject to assessment the prior year.

• The city of Hugo will receive an estimated additional $52,903 of coronavirus fiscal recovery funds under the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA). In November, the city was notified that it would receive an additional distribution of unrequested recovery funds.

(Additional funds are available for distribution because after the Oct. 11 deadline passed for local governments to request ARPA funds, nearly $12 million of the $377 million available to Minnesota local governments, cities under 50,000 in population, remained unrequested.)

The city of Hugo received the first half of these unrequested funds in November and if treasury guidance remains unchanged, will receive the second half in 2022.

• Fees have been updated for 2022. Some changes include: tobacco law violations, residential burning permits, residential parkland dedication, and water meters and utility hardware.

• The city’s salary matrix will increase by 4.5% and grant step increases to employees who have not yet reached their pay grade maximums for 2022. Twelve of the city’s 25 full-time employees will receive step increases. Two employees will be repositioned to a higher pay

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grade to better align their wages with comparable metro cities.

A new building inspector was hired in 2021 and the finance coordinator position was restructured to an accounting clerk position. The net aggregate dollar increase is $171,471, and the overall budget for employee wages will increase by 8.11%.

Scott Arcand will retire from the Planning Commission at the end of this year (when his term expires) after more than 12 years on the commission.

Several community members have been reappointed to advisory board and commissions, including: Bronwen Kleissler (Planning Commission, term expiration 2025); Frank Puleo (Economic Development Authority, term expiration 2024); Meredith St. Pierre and Roger Clarke (Parks Commission, term expiration 2024); and Scott Cregan and Joyce Granger (Historical Commission, term expiration 2024).

The Men’s Club of the Church of St. Genevieve will host a raffle during its annual Fish Fry on Friday, April 8.

The council has authorized payment of $742,198 to Ebert Construction for work completed on the public works facility.

The city will also pay $68,950 to Ebert for the salt and materials storage facility at the public works building.

• The council has authorized payment for the latest invoice submitted by A-1 Excavating Inc. in the amount of $129,166 for the 121st Street and Acres of Bald Eagle projects.

• The 2019-21 maintenance project on Judicial Ditch No. 2 is now complete, and a final payment of $8,080 to Scandia Trucking LLC has been authorized.

• eter Tokle will retire as the city’s electrical inspector at the end of this month. The city will now contract with Andrew Nykanen, of Nykanen Inspections Inc., effective Jan. 1.

• Hugo American Legion Post 620 has donated $800 to the fire department for training and equipment.

• The Hugo Fire Department will hold its annual banquet at 5 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 15.

• The City Council has canceled its Jan. 17 meeting because it falls on Martin Luther King Jr. Day. The council also scheduled a goal-setting session for 5 p.m. Monday, Jan. 24. The local Board of Appeals and Equalization is scheduled for 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 7, at City Hall.

Shannon Granholm

SCHWIETERS CAMPUS: City Council will consider approvals for new building FROM PAGE 1

Bill Mahre, a resident of the Fenway Place neighborhood, spoke on behalf of himself and other Fenway residents. “I’m not an expert in noise reduction, but I can tell you that during the summer months the main facility (building no. 2) those doors remain open 24/7. They don’t close. So when residents have their windows open it is pretty loud, especially during the evening and sleeping hours,” he said.

“I don’t want this to be construed that the residents of Fenway are against the project, that’s not what we are against. I think they run a tremendous operation. It is clean, it is neat, their employees seem to be very respectful,” he said. “They are their buildings … but we have to be careful with that, because there are residents in that area that have invested a lot of money in their personal property, and I think that needs to be respected.”

Denise Johnson has lived in the neighborhood for more than 18 years. “We fully understand the desire of Schwieters to expand their business, and we are happy for them that they are doing well and that they have seen a lot of growth. But we also have concerns with that growth,” she explained. “Currently, there are loud disruptive noises that come from Schwieters during their hours of operation. That happens 24/7.

That noise can be heard whether our windows are open or closed. It happens in all seasons.”

Johnson played a few audio recordings she has captured of the noises during the evening hours and played them for the commission. “Growth is exciting to see, but with it comes sacrifices of open spaces and the small-town feel that we moved to Hugo for. We are upset about the current noise, but we are dreading future noise, too,” she said. “We feel the addition of the proposed building would make everything exponentially worse than what we are currently seeing.

Our hope is that we can find a solution that would shield us from the current noise and the future noise that’s occurring within the business.”

Resident Donald Patrick Jones said, “What we are asking Schwieters is that the problem of noise and traffic be addressed.” He likened the noises residents hear in the middle of a night to a big metal drum being hit by smaller metal tubes with an intensity that interferes with conversations and hearing the TV, and requested a noise study be done. He said in his opinion, the noise probably exceeds OSHA standards.

“If our concerns are not addressed, then our civil as well as political rights are being violated and that is a federal crime,” he said. “By working together, we can probably come up with an agreeable solution.

That’s our hope. I ask you to consider our rights.”

Blake Schwieters, who manages the manufacturing operation, said, “This is an extension of our

current operation at JL Schwieters. It will be the same products, just more capacity.” He explained that there would not be truck traffic on 140th Street for this new building, and that deliveries only occur between 7 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The two main shifts are from 6 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 4 a.m. The beeping noises come from forklifts, which are used to bring raw materials into the building and finished products out.”

He said the garage doors are typically only open when product is being moved in or out, but sometimes in the summer the doors get left open for longer periods of time for temperature control.

Although the company has heat, he said air conditioning really isn’t an option.

Planning Commission member Cindy Petty said she used to live in the Country Ponds neighborhood, but relocated due to the noise. “I would sure hope that wouldn’t happen to these folks who are just asking for some consideration for peace and quiet,” she said. “Schwieters is awesome. I applaud you guys.

Nobody wants to see you go anywhere. It’s great that you are growing. There just has to be some kind of compromise so that people can still enjoy the peace and quiet of their homes and not be woken up at all hours of the day and night and be able to have their windows open.”

Schwieters said dumpster relocation would be the easiest solution, and he would continue to work with his floormen to make sure doors are being closed as much as possible.

The Planning Commission ultimately decided to recommend the council approve the site plan and CUP amendment, with a couple of conditions. One condition is that JL Schwieters agrees to move a dumpster at its existing building (building No. 2).

Another condition would be that the company agree to not leave its garage doors open when it is not a necessity between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. The commission

also requested further information about what it would take to limit semi traffic on 140th Street.

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

JL Schwieters is proposing to build the third phase of its campus development, which would be located at the northwest corner of the property.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The 43,000-square-foot- building would include space for offices, manufacturing and a warehouse. The project would also include the extension of 140th Street to the west property line.

8

THE CITIZEN

DECEMBER 30, 2021 www.readthecitizen.com

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THE CITIZEN

DECEMBER 30, 2021 www.readthecitizen.com

JANUARY Department (BPD) were just some of the 2,500 to 3,000 officers from around the country who traveled to Washington, D.C., to assist with the inauguration.

ACSO sent 25 deputies, WCSO sent 19 deputies and BPD sent 14 officers. The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office did not send any deputies to Washington, D.C.

Brewery owners find it difficult to see future CONTRIBUTED

Former Centennial Lakes Police Officer Bill Jacobson was one of 24 deputies from (ACSO) who traveled to Washington, D.C. to assist with the inauguration

Area officers get once-in-a-lifetime opportunity The Anoka County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO), Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) and the Blaine Police

If it wasn’t for government funding, customer support and the innovation of business owners, several more breweries would have closed their doors since the pandemic began.

Breweries are now weathering their second shutdown. The fi rst shutdown began last year on March 17 and lasted 2 1/2 months. From June 10 until the second shutdown, which began Nov. 21, breweries were allowed to operate at 50% capacity indoors

and had to adhere to a long list of guidelines. On Dec. 18, Gov. Walz revised the executive order to prohibit indoor dining but allow breweries to serve patrons outdoors. The executive order is effective through Sunday, Jan. 10. Restrictions may be dialed back at that time or remain in place.

2021: Local lawmakers share top priorities This is the opening week of the 90-second session of the Minnesota Legislature. Members take oaths of office, elect leaders and officers.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many priorities. Learn local lawmakers’ priorities in Press Publication’s Legislative Preview.

Each of the elected officials serving The Citizen circulation area was asked the question: “What are your top priorities for the upcoming session?”

Goal set high for small-business donation effort A Hugo resident is doing all he can to ensure that small businesses in the community stick around once this pandemic is behind us.

Mike Roberts, who is originally from North Carolina, is no stranger to small business. At the young age of 5, he remembers helping out with his parents’ small business. When Roberts was a senior in high school, his parents’ business of 30 years went under and they had to fi le for bankruptcy.

Compelled to help area small businesses, Roberts started reaching out to community leaders, business owners and community members.

Flying by the seat of his pants, Roberts sprang into action and set up a GoFundMe page to collect donations for local businesses in need.

FEBRUARY Prepared for winter weather

Fire departments welcome home one of their own Fire and police agencies from all over Anoka County braved the cold temperatures to welcome home one of their own following his four-month battle with COVID-19. Fire engines and police squads lined Hokah Drive in Lino Lakes in anticipation of retired Centennial Fire District Deputy Chief Glen Olson’s arrival.

When Olson turned onto his street

Feb. 16, he was greeted by fi refighters, EMTs, police officers, deputies, family members and neighbors holding welcome home signs.

Local couple rebrands boat rental business on Bald Eagle Lake After 20 years, a boat rental business is under new ownership.

White Bear Township couple Ben and Katy Robinson closed on the sale of Bald Eagle Boat Rental from previous owner Marty Weber earlier

this year. The seasonal boat rental business, located at 4444 129th St. in Hugo, has been located on the property for decades but has had a few different owners.

Weber put the business up for sale after 20 years of operation. Before Weber, the business was known as Bobber’s for 10 years and, before that, the Lakeview Inn for several years.

FILE

“Jiggy” wears brightly colored winter boots as he trots across a snow-covered field at the off-leash dog area at Bald Eagle-Otter Lake Regional Park in White Bear Township.

MARCH Troop 151 has long history of producing Eagle Scouts

FILE

Jacob Mickelson, Wyatt Fish and Logan Jensen all earned their Eagle Scout ranks.

from neighboring communities like Lino Lakes and Centerville.

Troop 151 has been in existence for nearly 60 years. Forty-seven of its Scouts have achieved the rank of Eagle Scout.

In 2019, only 8% of Scouts have earned the highest attainable rank.

Requirements include earning at least 21 merit badges and demonstrating Scout spirit through the Boy Scout Oath and Law, service and leadership. Eagle Scouts must also organize, lead, manage and complete a service project.

Established in 1962, Troop 151 is chartered to American Legion Post 620 in Hugo. The troop currently only has members from Hugo, but in previous years members have come

Protect and Serve Unless the judge delays it, next week begins the televised trial of Derek Chauvin, the former Minneapolis police officer charged with killing George Floyd. Floyd’s killing on Chicago Avenue still echoes across the country, and puts Chauvin and a metro police department on trial to tackle racism and use of force.

In the northeast suburbs, neighborhood policing is routine.

However, many suburban departments are using this time to examine how they train and restrain.

Press Publications asked each of the local departments how they train

and restrain to put how local police departments respond in perspective for suburban residents. We received responses from the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office, Washington County Sheriff’s Office, Centennial Lakes Police Department, Lino Lakes Public Safety Department and White Bear Lake Police Department.

Alleycat’s and ‘The Fry Guy’ team up to offer ribs Realtor David Fry has been in the real estate business for 28 years. But some people don’t know that another one of his passions is smoking ribs, which may be a new business venture.

Top 10 website stories 2021 - The Citizen 4. Hugo resident, firefighter wins big on scratch card 5. Lions Park: First look at refined concept 6. Luxury home tour features Hugo house 7. Shoreview man charged in shooting incident involving police squad, station

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8. 2021 The Citizen area election results 9. Lions Park to be ‘a great addition to Hugo’ 10. 2021 fish fries: Where to find your lenten meal

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1. Booms: Ice cream with a bang 2. Sheriff ’s office investigating dog poisoning in Hugo 3. Construction of new elementary school in Hugo begins

DECEMBER 30, 2021

THE CITIZEN www.readthecitizen.com

11

APRIL ‘100 & Fabulous’

A ‘constant’ grandpa marks decade in Oneka classroom It wouldn’t be a Thursday without a visit from Grandpa Don. For 10 years, White Bear Lake resident Don Moore — also known as Grandpa Don — has visited teacher Amy Corner’s students at Oneka Elementary School in Hugo. Moore is a retired teacher and principal.

North + South = 1 expansive high school

FILE

Agnes Lavorato, a resident at Good Life Senior Living in Hugo, celebrated her 100th birthday April 8. Lavorato lived in White Bear Lake for 70-plus years and was a longtime member of St. Mary of the Lake Church. Lavorato’s one and only daughter, Jeannie Meyer, said Agnes is still “really sharp.”

The new school will double in size.

There will be two main entrances instead of one, a larger auditorium, new field house, three stories of classrooms and multiple parking lots.

All are part of the North Campus expansion/renovation approved by voters in 2019.

The name will change, of course, to White Bear Lake Area High School.

North and South Campus will cease to exist as separate schools as grades 9 through 12 are once again housed under one roof with capacity for 3,200

students. Move-in date is targeted for fall 2024.

Nuptials gone awry: Coping with COVID-19 Seven weeks before Molly Lund and Chris Kieger were supposed to say “I do,” everything turned upside down. They became engaged in August 2020 and were planning to get married at a small ceremony at a resort up north on April 30. In March, they found out they would need to cancel and start their venue search all over again.

Jordan Bergman-Rushton and Rob Rushton had been planning their big day for two years when the pandemic hit and threatened to change everything. They became engaged in October 2018. The St. Paul residents were planning to marry on Aug. 15, 2020 at a family cabin.

A large reception was planned for the following weekend. The couple decided to still be married on that

date with immediate friends and family members, but postponed their reception.

Construction of new elementary school in Hugo begins Work has begun on the new elementary school, which will be located west of Forest Boulevard North/Hwy 61 across from 152nd Street North.

Plans for the new K-5 school have been underway since fall 2019, when voters approved District 624’s $326 million bond referendum. The new elementary school is estimated to cost more than $43 million.

The site is approximately 137 acres, but only 35 of those acres on the northeastern corner of the site are buildable. White Bear Area Schools will build a 100,000-square-foot elementary school and gymnasium.

Street improvements, ballfields, walking trails and a playground are also planned.

MAY which is where Harley found his profi le.

Anderson also delivered Harley’s older brother, and her mother liked him so much that she scheduled an induction to make sure he could deliver Harley as well. If not for a 48hour shift change, he would also have delivered Harley’s sister.

Project and ‘inadequate’ notice irk residents CONTRIBUTED

Dr. Matthew Anderson delivered Danielle Harley at a hospital in Burlington, Iowa in 1994, and Harley’s third child Benjamin April 16, 2021 at St. John’s Hospital.

Special delivery: Longtime doctor brings family full circle Danielle Harley thought it was a funny coincidence that the White Bear Lake doctor she’d chosen to deliver her third child happened to be from the same town where she was born in Iowa.

It turns out that Dr. Matthew Anderson was the same doctor who delivered Harley in 1994. Dr. Anderson practiced in Burlington, Iowa, for 22 years before he moved to Minnesota. He joined AALFA Family Clinic in White Bear Lake in 2010,

Yes, residents and business owners in Centerville and Lino Lakes have concerns about the biggest project to hit Centerville in the past 20 years. But what has really drawn collective ire is the feeling that news about such an enormous project was being kept from them.

As discussed at the April 28 Centerville City Council meeting, R & R Leasing Inc. (Rehbein Commercial) requested to plat two parcels of land it owns into six lots and a new street.

The plat involves 23.73 acres of vacant property on the north side of Main Street between 20th and 21st avenues.

Developers have bought three of the six lots; the remaining three will remain vacant for the near future.

A Kwik Trip is proposed for a 4.47acre lot; the NorBella Senior Living facility is proposed for a 4.3-acre lot

and the Belleville Apartments are proposed for a 5.3-acre lot.

Concerns named in the stopcenterville.com petition started by Lino Lake residents located just to the north in the Watermark Development include the risk of putting longstanding local business owners out of business, increased traffic, and noise and safety issues due to the traffic increase.

(The Belleville Apartments project was not approved by the council; NorBella Senior Living broke ground earlier this month and plans to open in September; and Kwik Trip intends to break ground mid-summer 2022.

No other projects have been proposed for the three remaining lots at this time.)

Hugo loses first and only finance director Although he had worked for the city of Hugo for 32 years, many community members likely have no idea who he is.

Ron Otkin, the city’s longtime finance director, unexpectedly passed away May 5, three days before his 62nd birthday.Otkin, a St. Paul resident, began his career in 1978 as the fi nancial officer for the city of Pipestone, Minnesota, and eventually moved to St. Peter, where he accepted

the same position. In 1989, Otkin began his career with the city of Hugo, becoming the city’s fi rst and only fi nance director.

Equity topic takes over school board meeting So many people showed up to the Centennial School Board meeting last week that the meeting had to be moved from the District Center to the Performing Arts Center.

A group of about 80 people attended the May 10 meeting, many of them to voice their displeasure with the joint powers agreement (JPA) and contract with Equity Alliance MN (EA-MN) on which the district was scheduled to vote.

The board then opened up the public forum. Those who wished to speak during the public forum were asked to sign up and provide a full name and address before addressing the board and abide by several rules, but not every speaker complied with those requirements. Eighteen people spoke during the public forum, which lasted for 45 minutes.

JUNE politicians and public safety officials showed up to thank longtime Council Member Chuck Haas for his 22-plus years of service to the city. Haas resigned from the council, but still remains active in the Hugo Beyond the Yellow Ribbon network.

Tenant announced for downtown project CONTRIBUTED

Longtime Council Member Chuck Haas can’t help but smile as City Administrator Bryan Bear recaps his many years of service to the city. While on the City Council, Haas attended 931 official meetings. He has been a Hugo resident since 1991.

Longtime council member thanked with standing ovation Usually when City Hall is packed, it is a sign that neighbors are unhappy about something.

That was not the case at the last Hugo City Council meeting. In fact, community members, area leaders,

A 7,000-square-foot restaurant with a 2,500-square-foot patio overlooking Egg Lake may be coming to downtown Hugo.

The developer of the project, Dennis Properties, announced last week that it has entered into a letter of intent for leasing the restaurant and patio to Patrick Conroy. Conroy, a Hugo resident, owns 11 restaurants in the Twin Cities, including Muddy Cow, Muddy Chicken, Mad Cow and MC’s Tap House.

The City Council approved a purchase agreement for $1 for the city-owned property across Highway 61 from City Hall last December. At

that time, the plan included 89,000 square feet of building space with 200 parking stalls. Some key features of the project could include a downtown pier on Egg Lake and a pedestrianfriendly Main Street.

(Dennis Properties has applied for a land use application, but it is incomplete and has not been scheduled for a Planning Commission or City Council meeting, according to City Planner Rachel Juba.)

Fun at Good Neighbor Days

Area chiropractor selected as Good Neighbor of the Year The secret’s out! This year’s Hugo Good Neighbor of the Year’s identity has been revealed.

2021 was the fi rst time in 20 years Dr. Bill Barrett has ridden in the Good Neighbor Days parade; up until this year, he has helped with parade corner patrol. Barrett, a Lino Lakes resident, has owned Hugo Chiropractic Clinic since 1978.

LOU MICHAELS | CONTRIBUTED

After a one-year hiatus, Hugo Good Neighbor Days returned for the 45th annual celebration. Good Neighbor Days boasted the theme, “Decades of Fun… And More to Come.” Festivities included: the parade, carnival rides, inflatables, pony rides, craft vendor fair, live music, Backyard Ribfest, fireworks, a bags tournament and more.

12

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DECEMBER 30, 2021 www.readthecitizen.com

JULY Flagship Recreation (Landscape Structures Equipment) will provide the playground equipment and installation. Schrieber Mullaney Construction Co Inc. will construct the pavilion. The project is estimated to cost $7.9 million. The pavilion should be substantially complete spring 2022, and the other outdoor spaces completed by July.

Centennial School Board selects interim superintendent

FILE

Not even rain could stop the groundbreaking ceremony for Hugo’s Lions Park. City staff, City Council members, community members, business representatives and school representatives all attended the event to officially kick off the project.

City of Hugo breaks ground on Lions Park project Improvements to the 9.75-acre park will include a 5,500-square-foot pavilion, all-inclusive playground, trails, landscaping and more. The city has contracted with Peterson Companies for the project, and

The Centennial School District has a new interim leader. The school board held a special meeting last week to announce its selection of Jeffrey Holmberg as the district’s interim superintendent following the resignation of former superintendent Brian Dietz in June.

Holmberg comes to Centennial from Prior Lake – Savage Area Schools, where he worked for the last 12 years as director of curriculum, instruction and assessment and served as assistant superintendent.

Prior to that he worked as director of teaching, learning and school improvement at Big Lake Public Schools in Big Lake, Minnesota, and completed an administrative assistant

and administrative internship at Minnewashta Elementary School in Minnetonka, where he was an elementary school teacher.

foot facility in 2005. She plans to take a little break this summer but then begin researching for a new business this fall.

The Dance Unit gears up for 2nd season

Roaring 20’s tumblers

The owners of The Dance Unit in Hugo have plans to nearly double their space this fall so they can expand their class offerings.

Joint ownership of a dance studio has always been in the plans for Lauren and Kyle Gross. They both grew up in dance and met each other in college while performing for a dance company in Minneapolis.

The two eventually started teaching together at a dance studio, then began dating. They will celebrate their third wedding anniversary in August.

Longtime day care owner moves on to the next chapter

FILE

Janine Ketchel, previous owner of KinderGardens Child Development Center in Hugo, has spent the last 15-plus years helping families. Even though she recently sold the business, she plans to continue doing just that.

Ketchel, a Forest Lake resident, has been in the child care industry for 30 years. She opened the 7,500-square-

Bald Eagle Waterski Show team members fly (and tumble) through the air after skiing off a jump during a recent Thursday evening show on Centerville Lake. The trick is a Pin Wheel, which combines from left to right, a Helicopter 360, a front somersault and a back somersault — all at the same time off the ramp. Skiers (from left) are: Jacke Lobin, Joey Lobin and Tom Kohl.

between Sorel and Heritage Streets.

The city negotiated with the developer about the purchase price, originally set at $350,000, and other issues, with an eye toward moving ahead with a purchase agreement.

The city will sell the land to Centra Homes for $1 but will offer no public assistance, such as tax increment financing (TIF) dollars. The developer will pay 100% of the usual fees, such as the sewer access fee, water access fee and park fees.

‘Don’t ignore the warning signs’

border of Hugo and Lino Lakes, in November 2019. A couple of months later, Chris officially launched his “day job” side of the business, AI Grow.

AI Grow is a new division of Ellis’ company Assured Integration, which he began in Georgia in early 2017. He was traveling a lot for work, mainly to Minnesota and Wisconsin, so the couple eventually decided to relocate to Minnesota.

district provided a separate space within the District Center where attendees could watch a livestream broadcast of the meeting. However, maskless individuals still chose to be present in the main meeting space.

On noticing this, the board quickly passed its consent agenda, explained the reason the public forum would be skipped, and then adjourned.

AUGUST Action-packed week at Keystone

Block 7 townhome project moves forward The Centerville City Council has voted 3-2 (Council members Steve King and Russ Koski opposed) to approve a purchase agreement with Centra North of Coon Rapids to develop the city-owned block, which presently sits vacant.

The developer proposes to build 26 townhouses on 1.61 acres located on the west side of Centerville Road

The main message a local family hopes to get across by sharing their son’s health scare is to never ignore the warning signs.

2017 Centennial High School graduate D.J. Love, son of Susan and D. Love (mayor of Centerville), is currently in the ICU at M Health Fairview University of Minnesota Medical Center and has a long road of recovery ahead of him

FILE

Keystone Place at LaValle Fields resident Patti Vignalo greets a bunny from Sweet Manes. Residents also enjoy visiting with miniature horses, goats and dogs, and even attended a car show.

SEPTEMBER Over the course of her career, Rookie, a 2-year-old Labrador retriever, will greet and impact thousands of lives.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) is likely one of the fi rst agencies in the state to have a certified therapy dog paired with a law enforcement officer working in the field. Rookie is a part the WCSO’s Crisis Response Team, an initiative that was launched in October 2020.

When Chris Ellis was searching for a warehouse facility to develop his indoor grow system, he stumbled across an apple orchard — and the rest is history. Chris and his wife Shelli purchased Applecrest Orchards, located at 7306 24th Ave. N. on the

In a less than five-minute meeting, the White Bear Lake Area School Board canceled its public forum in response to members of the audience who chose to attend the in-person meeting without wearing masks.

District policy currently requires face coverings for ages 2 and older, regardless of vaccination status.

For those unable to wear masks, the

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Since Rookie was originally trained as a service dog, she is really in tune with how people are feeling. If she notices someone isanxious, she will put her paw on their foot or rest her head on their lap.

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13

OCTOBER Pumpkins blossom into yearly tradition

announcements and more.

Corner Express owner Todd Steffen explained that when he purchased the business from his friend John Magill 19 years ago, the community message concept existed — even though back then it was just a small roadside sign.

Every year, a father and son try to outdo each other in weight — that is, when it comes to growing pumpkins.

For the past five years, Hugo resident Jeff LeClair has tried to grow a pumpkin that not only beats his previous year’s pumpkin, but eventually his father Mark LeClair’s pumpkin. Mark has been honing his pumpkin-growing skills for quite some time, but son Jeff said he hopes it eventually gets to the point where “the student can outteach the teacher.”

CONTRIBUTED

Hugo resident Jeff LeClair tries to outdo himself, and his father Mark LeClair, when it comes to pumpkin weight each year. Jeff is pictured with his children 7-year-old Hunter and 3-year-old Brynley.

Community rallies together to support veteran

Sign stays in tune with happenings Since the early ’90s, motorists traveling on Main Street and 20th Avenue have been greeted with a variety of messages: birthday greetings, anniversary wishes, graduation congratulations, event

The fi rst Saturday in October is recognized as Veterans Suicide Prevention & Awareness Day in Minnesota. After an opening ceremony at Lakeside Memorial Park in Forest Lake, Wedger began his run north along the trail on Highway 61 to North Branch and then turned around to head back toward Hugo.

A local veteran recently laced up his running shoes and completed the nearly impossible — all to spur conversations and raise awareness of veteran suicide.

Caleb Wedger served in the Minnesota Air National Guard for nine years. In 2012, he was deployed for six months. He spent half of his time in Kuwait and the other half in Afghanistan. Two weeks before he left for basic training, his father took his own life.

Centennial firefighter inspired to do more missions across state lines

consulting fi rm, interview team and the City Council have decided it has the best candidate for the job right there at City Hall.

The city’s fi rst and only finance director, Ron Otkin, passed away unexpectedly in May. Otkin worked for the city for 32 years. Finance Coordinator Anna Wobse was then appointed to serve as the interim finance director. The interview team, and ultimately the City Council, decided Wobse was the best candidate for the job.

Afternoon do-si-dos

A fi refighter with the Centennial Fire District (CFD) is hopeful that fi refighting will bring him across state lines again in the future after his experience down south.

CFD fi refighter Michael Tschida was one of the 22 fi refighters from nine departments across the state of Minnesota who volunteered to travel to Louisiana to help with recovery efforts after Hurricane Ida.

NOVEMBER

FILE

Mike Crever, at the podium, his son Jim Crever, and sister-in-law Linda Brisson Cummings presented a $1,000 check to Honor Guard Captain Jerome Bush, left, at the Legion’s Veterans Day dinner last week.

Cemetery visit leads to Legion donation When Mike Crever visited his family plot in Hugo’s St. John’s Cemetery Memorial Day, 2019, he discovered two small markers partially hidden by dirt and grass.

The weathered stones only had a fi rst name and middle initial: Mary E. and Euclide M. and years of life.

Thinking his great-grandparents needed something more befitting, Crever contacted his sister-in -law, Linda Brisson Cummings, who also happens to be his second cousin.

Would she be willing to chip in for a nicer headstone, he asked? Absolutely, she said.

And that’s how Crever began the story at the American Legion Post 620 Veteran’s Day dinner that culminated in presentation of a check to the Honor Guard for $1,000.The money came from related family members who pitched in for a new stone. Crever collected $1,060 for the marker, which cost $870. So what to do with the extra money? The cousins decided to give it to the Legion.

City selects ‘best candidate’ for finance director position After an extensive search process to find the city’s next finance director, a

Journey to recovery: Local teen shares experience with students Gavin Nelson was 12 years old when he started using drugs. After an overdose a year ago, he is on the road to recovery and sobriety.

Nelson, 19, was born in Stillwater.

He grew up in both Stillwater and White Bear Lake. Nelson said both of his parents were addicts: his mom’s addiction was alcohol and his dad’s was meth and cocaine.

FILE

Square dancers from the Jolly Promenaders and Triple T clubs were joined by staff members during a recent demonstration, led by caller Bob Maiden, at the Good Life Senior Living facility Hugo.

DECEMBER Generosity project brings seniors, cancer patients comfort and joy What began as a thought of packing some shoeboxes with holiday gifts for seniors has since blossomed into an effort by a Hugo teen to touch the lives of cancer treatment patients as well.

Hugo resident Josiah Cullen, 16, has already blessed seniors at Encore Assisted Living and Memory Care with holiday care packages. Going into the new year, he is planning more care packages for cancer treatment patients in Wyoming.

Adelaide Landing holiday display back for 2nd year

CONTRIBUTED

The secret’s out: Farm and apple orchard make television debut Owners of an area apple orchard, a local farm and a seasonal ice cream shop can now share a little bit more about a big secret they have had to keep for quite some time.

The Miron family farm in Hugo, Pine Tree Apple Orchard in White Bear Lake and Nelson’s Ice Cream in Stillwater were three of several stops featured in a reality TV show’s visit to the state. The ABC Show “The Bachelorette” is currently in its 18th season and follows Michelle Young, a former Division I basketball player and fi fth grade teacher from Minnesota in her search to fi nd a lifelong partner.

Private school purchases vacant school Liberty Classical Academy in White Bear Lake has purchased the empty Withrow Elementary School building in Hugo.

The building has been vacant since 2017, when the Stillwater School District closed the school. At a recent Stillwater School Board meeting, the board voted to sell the property to Liberty Classical Academy, a private school with a commitment to Christian faith.

724820

Hugo resident Josiah Cullen, 16, packs care packages for senior citizens. He is now working on packing items for cancer treatment patients.

The residents of Adelaide Landing are back at it again this holiday season in an effort to spread the joy of the season and assist the local food shelf.

Chris DuFresne, president of the Hugo Good Neighbors Food Shelf, is one of the masterminds behind the effort within the Adelaide Landing neighborhood, located north of 130th

Street and immediately east of Hwy. 61 in Hugo. It all started last year when DuFresne and his wife were trying to think of something to do for the holidays that would give people a safe way to celebrate the season during the pandemic.

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Press Publications suggests that you be aware of advertisers requesting payment for shipping merchandise. Confirm and verify all contact resources prior to sending any money. Take caution when responding to text messages that are not local numbers.

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451 Rentals/ Commercial EQUAL HOUSING OPPORTUNITY, all real estate advertising in this newspaper is subject to the Fair Housing Act which makes it illegal to advertise “any preference, limitation or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin, or an intention, to make any such preference, limitation or discrimination.” Familial status includes children under the age of 18 living with parents or legal custodians; pregnant women and people securing custody of children under 18. This newspaper will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law.

Our readers are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised in this newspaper are available on an equal opportunity basis. To complain of discrimination call HUD toll free: 1-800-669-9777.

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Weather tidbits

Brought to you by WeathermanWatson.com Interesting and crazy Minnesota weather. It appeared that we were headed to have a white Christmas only to have it melt away with 40º temperatures on Christmas Eve. The few flakes of snow on Christmas Day didn't even cover the ground, but there were no travel issues here in the Twin Cities. A snow event on Sunday turned into an ice event on Monday morning. Roads were slick and the snow was coated with a thin layer of ice. Our first taste of subzero temperatures are on the way. Are you ready? Side note: My 2022 weather calendar is out! Check my website for more info.

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Frank Watson is a local Meteorologist who operates a weather station in White Bear Lake.

Weather data and observation are from his weather station and trips around the area. Frank can be found on the internet at WeathermanWatson.com.

WEEKLY AVERAGES DEC. 29 - JAN. 4 High 25° | Low 10° | %Sun 43% | PCP 0.27”

Wed Dec. 29 8°/ 0°

Thu Dec. 30 19°/ 2°

Fri Dec. 31 16°/ 2°

Sat Jan. 1 9°/ -17°

Sun Jan. 2 4°/ -2°

Mon Jan. 3 20°/ 8°

Tue Jan. 4 21°/ 11°

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DECEMBER 30, 2021 www.readthecitizen.com

Crossword

CLUES ACROSS

56. Shed tears 57. Low frequency 1. Upright post on a boat 58. Harmful bacterium 5. Sentimental person 10. Native American tribe 63. Common language: lingua __ 12. Wear away 65. Standards of perfection 14. Where you’re going 66. They consist of two 16. Doctor parts 18. Popular Chinese dialect 67. A detailed description 19. One point east of due south of design 20. Northern sea duck 22. Note 23. Wives (law) 25. Trigonometric function CLUES DOWN 26. A way to communicate 1. More (Spanish) 2. A subdivision of a play (abbr.)

3. Japanese title 27. Swiss river 4. More jittery 28. No (Scottish) 5. Fabric 30. Commercials 6. Luke’s mentor __-Wan 31. Large instrument 7. Cleaving tool 33. __ Chantilly, __ de 8. Ancient city of Egypt Menthe 9. 36 inches 35. Small, saclike cavities 10. Farewell 37. High and thin in tone 11. Second to last 38. Treat extremely well 40. Famed track star Usain 13. Improved by critical editing 41. Secure web connection 15. Defensive weapon (abbr.) (abbr.)

42. Rob of energy 17. Fancy attire 44. Paving material 18. __ Farrow, actress 45. Cool!

48. Tip of Aleutian Islands 21. Completely opposed 23. Supervises flying 50. Indicates silence 52. Water in the solid state 24. Pouch 27. True fi rs 53. Security interests 29. Mistake 55. Popular hoopster 32. Computing platform Jeremy

(abbr.)

34. Snakelike fish 35. Greatly horrify 36. Despicable person 39. Tell on 40. Ballplayer’s tool 43. Central Brazilian town 44. Court game 46. Land 47. “The Partridge Family” actress Susan 49. Retract a statement 51. Data executive 54. Capital of Yemen 59. Portable computer screen material 60. Electronic data processing 61. “Matt Houston” actor Horsley 62. Resinous substance 64. Rural delivery

Email: callaspecialist @presspubs.com

To place an ad call: 651-407-1250 ELECTRIC

PAINTING

ARROW

ng Colors Livi Pro

6PDOO -REV :HOFRPH

Painting

MEET YOUR SPECIALIST

Would you like to be a part of our growing "Happy Customer List"?

Pro

• Professional, Residential House Painting • 35 Years Experience • Interior & Exterior • Kind, Respectful Service CONTACT RICHARD

t 3FQBJS $JSDVJUT t 3FDFQUT "EEFE t 3FNPEFMT t 1BOFMT 3FQMBDFE t $FJMJng Fans Floyd DeHate, Master Electrician

651-346-8185 EMERGENCY SERVICE

We will provide a list of the current dozen customers on our initial meeting. Contacts have asked YoungCastle to be on the list.

612-394-8978

Feel free to contact our “Happy Customers” to ask any questions regarding our excellent work or concerns that you may have.

Water problems and water damage are the #1 reason that bathrooms start to deteriorate. Don’t put off your project before it is too late and the expense gets to be too much for your budget.

FEED MILL

Hugo Feed Mill and Hardware Your Local Hardware Store & More

Pet Food & Supplies Bird & Wildlife Feed Lawn & Garden Supplies

651-429-3361

Call Rosalie (office manager) Mon-Fri 8 am to 5 pm at 651-257-4706 to set up your (free) initial meeting.

Interior: commercial, residential, new construction walls, ceilings, trim, cabinets, floors Exterior: cedar siding/trim repairs, stains and painting

PLUMBING

CALL OR EMAIL! GET 2021 PRICING FOR SPRING/SUMMER 2022 EXTERIORS

651-238-1850 brian@cedarspec-bestpainting.com

PAINTING/DECORATING J & G Home Interiors Residential/Commercial Painting Specialists

24 years in business

Furnace & A/C Installations and Service Licensed, Bonded & Insured 651.426.4233 cphvac.net

HOME IMPROVEMENT

We do: interior painting, stain and varnishing, Ceiling conversion to knock down, drywall repair.

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• Custom Carpentry and Design • Deck and Pergola Specialist • Building and Remodeling • Kitchens and Bathrooms • Home Renovation and Repair

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Design | Build | Renovate |Remodel |Repair

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c in g in

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FREE ESTIMATES

Bill 651-775-8396 www.allaroundremodeling.com

Insured • Bonded • License# BC637741

• Drain Cleaning • Hot Water Heating • Hot Water Heaters & Disposal • Well Pump Service • New Construction • Remodeling Tom Thill 651-433-4866

Lic. #005402

Ř 6PDOO -REV WHOFRPH Ř &DUSHQWU\ Ř $OO +DQG\PDQ 6HUYLFHV

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(651) 775-8602 Primeau’s Tree Service 46 years of experience

TXJO Cities Premier Home Improvement Company

651-238-6751 NorconHomes.com Insured / Lic #BC105943

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Every placead you in prirnuns and on t line Quality Work • Reasonable Rates

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Family owned Certified Arborist onsite!

ALL BUILT RIGHT CONSTRUCTION

Remodeling all types

Marty Hunt & Dale Lundstrom

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Call Matt 612-246-7079

Sheetrock Hanging ■ Tapng ■ Interior Painting ■ Knockdown ■ Resprays

Highest Quality Workmanship!

UÊ vv À`>L iÊTÀiiÊTÀ }ÊEÊ,i Û> UÊ-ÌÕ «Ê À ` }Ê UÊ i`}iÊEÊ- ÀÕLÊ- >« } UÊ-i ÀÊEÊViÌÃÊ ÃV Õ ÌÃ

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REMODELING

NEW HOMES • BASEMENTS • REMODELS • RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL ■

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THE SOONER WE CAN MEET YOU AND SEE YOUR BATHROOM, THE BETTER IT WILL BE ON YOUR WALLET.

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DECEMBER 30, 2021

THE CITIZEN www.readthecitizen.com

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY '500'

When: 12:45 p.m. Dec. 30, Jan. 6 & 20; the 1st and 3rd Thursday of every month Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 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 barbconnelly1958@yahoo.com

NEW YEAR'S EVE BASH AND BEAR DROP

WHITE BEAR LAKE WINTER FARMERS MARKET

When: 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 8 Where: Tamarack Nature Center, 5287 Otter Lake Road, White Bear Township Details: Twenty farmers and vendors will be selling locally grown and raised items including meats, cheeses, vegetables, baked goods, preserves, fermented foods, microgreens and other healthy living and gift items. Free cider, fires and a food truck.

Contact: forksinthedirt.com

LUNCH WITH A NATURALIST

17

Where: Rice Lake Centre, east end of Hugo Public Works building, 6900 137th Street N. Details: Short meeting followed by afternoon of games. Refreshments served. News members welcome; annual dues $10.

Contact: 651-592-0369 or barbconnelly1958@yahoo.com

for those 50+. Registration not requires; equipment provided.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

LET'S MAKE STUFF: DECORATIVE LIGHT SWITCHES

When: 2-3:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 13 Where: Hardwood Creek Library, 19955 Forest Rd. N., Forest Lake Details: Make a unique light switch using vintage type sketches and watercolor paints. Materials included. Registration required.

Contact: 651-275-7300 or washcolib.org

LEARN TO CROSS COUNTRY SKI

When: 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 19 Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes Details: Introductory class for all ages includes ski rental, instruction, and skiing through the park. Registration required; $15/adult, $10/child.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

When: 7 p.m. to midnight Friday, Dec. 31 When: 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 11 Where: White Bear Country Inn/Rudy's Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main Redeye Grill, St., Lino Lakes HUGO SENIOR CLUB Details: Family friendly events include Details: Learn the ins and outs of wildlife When: 1 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17; the 3rd complimentary hot chocolate bar at 7 tracking with a guide. Free program Monday of every month p.m. and kids Bear Drop at 8 p.m. on the rooftop with celebration favors.

For adults, dinner and dancing with live music by the JimTones at 6 p.m., XCEL ENERGY MINNESOTA ELECTRIC PRICES rooftop ice bar, and midnight Interim Change in Electric Rates Starting January 1, 2022 countdown to the New year Bear Drop, champagne XCEL ENERGY’S RATE INCREASE REQUEST PROPOSED CHANGES FOR MONTHLY ELECTRICITY BASE RATES toast and fireworks. Call Xcel Energy has asked the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission This chart shows the current and proposed electricity base rates for each customer type. for reservations for dining (MPUC) for an increase in electric rates to be phased in over a AVERAGE MONTHLY BILLS three-year period beginning Jan. 1, 2022. The requested increase options. for 2022 is about 12.2% or $396.0 million. Xcel Energy requested an Average Proposed Contact: 651-653-6718

RATE INCREASE NOTICE

When: 10:30-11:15 a.m.

Tuesday, Jan. 4 Where: Hugo City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Ave. Details: Explore the magic of music and play with educational materials in Spanish. For children ages 0-5 and caregivers.

Registration required.

Contact: 651-275-7300 or washcolib.org/events

ST. PAUL HIKING CLUB

When: 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 4 Where: Member's home, 4685 Fable Rd. N., Hugo Details: Approximately 3 mile hike through local neighborhoods, followed by treats.

Contact: stpaulhike.com

NATURE PLAY

When: 10-11:156 a.m.

Thursday, Jan. 6 Where: Wargo Nature Center, 7701 Main St., Lino Lakes Details: Children ages 2-5 can experience the wonders of nature through outdoor play, stories and crafts, and learn how animals live through the winter. $5/child; $3/ adult, registration required.

Contact: 763-324-3350 or anokacountyparks.com

MAKE & TAKE FRIDAYS

When: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7, 14, 21 & 28 Where: White Bear Lake Library, 2150 2nd St. Details: Children ages 2-5 can drop-in to make a craft to take home, or take the craft home and make it. Free.

Contact: 651-724-6007 or rclreads.org

FAMILY FRIENDLY DANCE PARTY

When: 7-10 p.m. Friday, Jan. 7 Where: St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes Details: Dance party fundraiser to support Anoka County 4-H Camp Salie with DJ, face painting, drawings and kids games. All ages. $5/ person; food sales additional.

Contact: 612-750-0252

Current monthly cost

2022 Interim monthly increase

2022 monthly cost

Proposed 2022 monthly increase

Proposed 2023 monthly increase*

Proposed 2024 monthly increase**

Residential – Overhead line service

514

$77.57

$4.98

$87.49

$9.92

$12.27

$14.75

Residential – Underground line service

752

$111.78

$7.13

$125.60

$13.81

$17.24

$20.87

Energy-Controlled (Dual Fuel)

1,019

$93.43

$6.85

$106.40

$12.97

$17.78

$21.41

Small General Service

794

$109.15

$10.21

$119.10

$9.95

$12.46

$14.63

Small General Time-of-Day Service

1,089

$134.93

$12.01

$147.71

$12.78

$15.72

$18.21

Customer type

State law allows Xcel Energy to collect higher rates on an interim (temporary) basis beginning Jan. 1, 2022, while the MPUC reviews Xcel Energy’s request. The total interim rate increase for 2022 is 8.1% or $247.1 million over total current rates. This appears on customer bills as an Interim Rate Adjustment and is calculated as a percentage of base rates. Base rates include the Basic Service Charge, Energy Charge, and, if it applies, the Demand Charge. The Interim Rate Adjustment does not apply to charges for fuel and cost recovery riders.

The Interim Rate Adjustment for residential customers is billed as an 8.92% increase, or $5.54 per month, for a typical residential customer using 601 kWh. The Interim Rate Adjustment for all other customers is billed as a 13.52% increase.

Because Xcel Energy is requesting a multiyear rate plan, the company is requesting an increase to the interim rate starting Jan. 1, 2023. If approved, the company will provide additional details before this increase happens.

The MPUC will likely make its decision on the overall rate request in 2023. If final rates are lower than interim rates, Xcel Energy will refund the difference with interest. If final rates are higher than interim rates, Xcel Energy will not charge customers the difference.

2022 monthly kWh usage

General Service

14,670

$1,679.88

$145.19

$1,867.18

$187.30

$213.28

$226.47

General Time-of-Day Service

123,490

$11,699.82

$918.85

$12,966.05

$1,266.24

$1,326.92

$1,872.25

Peak-Controlled Service

67,093

$9,040.31

$825.69

$10,100.96

$1,060.65

$1,265.88

$1,383.12

Peak-Controlled Time-of-Day Service

605,194

$66,153.60

$5,562.15

$73,651.86

$7,498.26

$9,421.86

$11,190.54

Small Municipal Pumping Municipal Pumping *

615

$86.84

$8.22

$94.79

$7.96

$9.77

$12.84

8,369

$1,082.84

$98.44

$1,202.67

$119.83

$152.06

$166.11

Cumulative: 2022 + 2023 Cumulative: 2022 + 2023 + 2024

**

WHY IS XCEL ENERGY ASKING FOR AN INCREASE? Xcel Energy’s last request for a rate increase was in 2015, when it received approval for its current multiyear rate plan. Under that plan, Xcel Energy’s base electric rates increased in 2016, 2017 and 2019. During this time, Xcel Energy has continually invested in strengthening the energy grid and enhancing the reliability of the service our customers count on while expanding clean energy.

These projects are key to meeting our customers’ needs today and in the future, as we build toward our vision of providing 100% carbon-free electricity to customers by 2050. A three-year rate plan provides Xcel Energy and our customers with more predictable rates for a longer period.

WHAT IS XCEL ENERGY DOING TO CONTROL COSTS? • Providing energy conservation options such as weatherization, LED lighting measures and energy design assistance for new construction projects to help customers manage energy use and save money on their bills. This also helps to delay generation investments.

• Reviewing and monitoring our business to minimize operating and maintenance cost increases.

• Operating power plants efficiently.

• Using a variety of fuel sources to manage costs and protect the environment.

ENERGY (PER KWH) AND DEMAND (PER KW) RATES Customer type

Current

Proposed 2022

Proposed 2023

Proposed 2024

Residential Energy: Summer (June-September)

10.301 ¢

12.994 ¢

13.748 ¢

14.453 ¢

Energy: Winter (Other months)

8.803 ¢

11.285 ¢

11.980 ¢

12.640 ¢

Energy: Winter – Electric heating

5.988 ¢

8.136 ¢

8.831 ¢

9.491 ¢

Energy: Summer

9.256 ¢

11.372 ¢

11.980 ¢

12.554 ¢

Energy: Winter

7.757 ¢

9.663 ¢

10.212 ¢

10.740 ¢

Small Commercial

Small General Time-of-Day Energy: On-Peak Summer

14.880 ¢

18.449 ¢

19.586 ¢

20.560 ¢

Energy: On-Peak Winter

11.723 ¢

14.679 ¢

15.686 ¢

16.558 ¢

Energy: Off-Peak

4.170 ¢

5.506 ¢

5.677 ¢

5.918 ¢

Energy

3.407 ¢

4.738 ¢

4.993 ¢

5.213 ¢

HOW WILL THE RATE CHANGE AFFECT MONTHLY BILLS?

Demand: Summer

$14.79

$17.48

$18.10

$18.52

The proposed rate increase will affect individual monthly bills differently depending on electricity use and customer type. The proposed rate increase mainly affects the Basic Service Charge, Energy Charge, and, if it applies, the Demand Charge. These charges cover the cost of providing electric service and represent about 66% of your total bill. This rate increase request does not affect the Fuel Cost Charge.

Demand: Winter

$10.49

$12.89

$13.50

$13.92

Energy: On-Peak

4.855 ¢

6.502 ¢

6.851 ¢

7.154 ¢

Energy: Off-Peak

2.341 ¢

3.422 ¢

3.606 ¢

3.765 ¢

HELP WITH BILLS If you are having trouble making regular payments on your Xcel Energy account, contact us as soon as possible. We’ll work with you to arrange a payment plan and connect you to other resources that can help.

WHAT IS THE PROCESS FOR REVIEWING XCEL ENERGY’S RATE INCREASE REQUEST? The MPUC, the Minnesota Department of Commerce, the Office of the Attorney General Residential Utilities and Antitrust Division, public interest groups, and large commercial and industrial customer groups will review and investigate our request.

The MPUC will hold public hearings and accept written comments about our rate increase request. Customers and others will be able to comment on our rate increase request at public hearings. You may add verbal comments, written comments, or both into the record.

Notice of public hearing dates and locations will be published in local newspapers and included in monthly bills.

TO LEARN MORE Xcel Energy’s current and proposed rate schedules are available at: Xcel Energy Online: xcelenergy.com/2022MNRates Phone: 800-895-4999 U.S. Mail: 414 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55401 Minnesota Department of Commerce Online: https://www.edockets.state.mn.us/EFiling/search.jsp.

Select 21 in the year field, enter 630 in the number field, click on Search, and the list of documents will appear on the next page.

General

General Time-of-Day

Demand: Summer

$14.79

$17.48

$18.10

$18.52

Demand: Winter

$10.49

$12.89

$13.50

$13.92

Note: Proposed lighting rate changes vary according to the type of lighting. The proposed final increase is 23.9% for full-service street lighting, 15.6% for energy-only street lighting service, and 23.9% for residential and commercial protective lighting.

Phone: 651-539-1500 or 800-657-3782 U.S. Mail: 85 Seventh Place East, Suite 280 St. Paul, MN 55101 Citizens with hearing or speech disabilities may call through their preferred Telecommunications Relay Service.

MONTHLY CUSTOMER CHARGES Customer type

Current

Proposed

Residential Overhead line

$8.00

$9.50

The Minnesota Public Utilities Commission is asking customers to comment on Xcel Energy’s request for a rate increase.

Send comments to: Phone: 651-296-0406 or 800-657-3782 Email: consumer.puc@state.mn.us Online: https://mn.gov/puc/consumers/public-comments/ See section “How to Submit a Comment” to find a list of ways to comment.

U.S. Mail: 121 7th Place East, Suite 350 St. Paul, MN 55101 Be sure to reference docket number 21–630.

Overhead line – Electric heating

$10.00

$11.50

Peak-Controlled

$55.00

$60.00

Important Public comments may be read by anyone who reviews the case record. Except in limited circumstances consistent with the Minnesota Government Data Practices Act, the MPUC does not edit or delete personally identifying information from submissions.

Peak-Controlled Time-of-Day

$55.00

$60.00

Underground line

$10.00

$11.50

Underground line – Electric heating

$12.00

$13.50

Small Commercial Small General

$10.00

$11.50

Small General Time-of-Day

$12.00

$13.50

Commercial and Industrial General

$25.64

$25.98

General Time-of-Day

$29.64

$29.98

© 2021 Xcel Energy Inc.

8.56x12_MN-InterimRates-Electric_Nov2021_P05.indd 1

723876

MACPHAIL LA MÚSICA Y LA FAMILIA!

additional 4.8% or $150.2 million for 2023, and an additional 4.2% or $131.2 million for 2024. The total increase requested for the threeyear period is 21.2% or $677.3 million.

12/16/21 12:57 PM

18

THE CITIZEN

DECEMBER 30, 2021 www.readthecitizen.com

H ONORING O UR H EROES Proudly Representing Over 50 Insurance Companies

Thank you so much for your service!

Elmer Pedersen

Alex Park

U.S. Army

U.S. Marines USS Iwo Jima

Carisa Anderson Chalie Lundgren National Guard

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant E6 Fort Jackson

Clement Stine

Abby White

U.S. Army Rand TEC 4 WWII

U.S. Navy Commander

Auto • Home • Life • Business Brian Roelofs 86 Mahtomedi Ave., Suite B

Norman I. Christensen U.S. Army SPC E-4-1

651-888-4111 www.roelofsagency.com

Wayne Dirksen

Dave Ackert

U.S. Army Air Corp Flight Officer WWII

RM3 USS Juneau, UPD-10 San Diego Okinawa Japan

Paul V. Jacobson U.S. Marines Master Sergeant WWII and Korean War

Eric Neutkens U.S. Army Major Ft. Sam Houston, Texas

Richard (Dick) Boden

Joseph “Joe” Bicha, Jr.

Vernon F. Reinert

U.S. Army 1st Armored Division Fort Hood - Korean War

USAF 1968-1972 SGT Vietnam Era Aleutian Islands

Coast Guard YN2 Port Angeles, WA Korean War

723916

brian@roelofsagency.com

JOIN OR VOLUNTEER WITH HUGO LIONS CLUB!

U.S. Army

William Burrows

U.S. Air Force Security Squad

U.S Navy Chief Petty Officer Midway Island

David Juutilainen

U.S. Army SPC5

U.S. Marines

Good Neighbor Days June 10-12, 2021

www.goodneighbordays.com

Expect more...the Madores!

White Bear Lake Realty

Kathy Madore (651) 592-4444 kathymadore@edinarealty.com

BEST OF THE PRESS

BEST CHILD CARE

Lisa Madore (651) 216-1335 lisamadore@edinarealty.com

Thank You Veterans For Your Service!

Enjoy a Secure and Stimulating Environment

www.TheMadores.edinarealty.com

SERVING THE COMMUNITY FOR 27 YEARS!

Broker-owner 25 years experience

WHY CHOOSE PAT-A-CAKE CHILD CARE?

4790 Banning Avenue • Downtown White Bear Lake 651-653-7326 • www.wblrealty.com

723941

James Sanchez

723951

Thank You to all who have served and are serving!

Roy D. Christensen Sr.

724181

U.S. Navy Quartermaster 7th fleet WWII

Terry DuRei

Thank You, Heroes!

hoNORING Our Heroes!

7761 Lake Dr., Ste. E, Lino Lakes • 651-786-2286 • www.patacakemn.com

We Salute 723812

American Legion Post 168 2210 3rd St. WBL, MN | (651) 429-5770

Part time and full time programs available Homemade meals and field trips • Learning activities Large, indoor muscle room • School preparedness Infant and toddler programs available

724009

Ray Bean

U.S. Air Force Staff Sergeant Retired

Ron Radermacher

Our Troops

VFW W Po Post t 11782 782 78

651-426-4944

4496 Lake Avenue South, White Bear Lake

723814

Peter Laramy

21438 FOREST BLVD. N, FOREST LAKE • 651-464-4540 • 651-464-3014 64-3014

724013 7240 2240 4013 401 4 40 013 01 0 133

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE!

DECEMBER 30, 2021

THE CITIZEN www.readthecitizen.com

19

H ONORING O UR H EROES

Katie Schulz U.S. Navy Commander

Irvin J. Christensen U.S. Navy E2 Deceased

Roryy D. Christensen U.S. Army Sergeant 4 years Home presently

Francis J. Wald Kenneth Joachim U.S. Army WWII

U.S. Army 34th Red Bulls WWII

Daniel Ivan Nelson U.S. Army Private 1st Class

Royy D. Christensen Jr. U.S. Army Sergeant, now working for US Govt. active for 10 years

Lester Nelson

Muriel Stine

U.S. Army Private 1st Class

U.S. Navy Machinist Mate WWII

Thomas J. Wheeler U.S. Army & US Navy Retired Senior Chief

Myron Lee Nelson U.S. Army Radio Teletype Operator

Priest Knox

Andrew Sivanich

Rose Bayuk

U.S. Navy Lieutenant WWII and Korean War

U.S. Army 10th Group Major Fort Carson, Colorado

U.S. Army Nurse Corps First Lieutenant U.S. Army Hospital Ship Thistle WW2

c o lli si o n an d au t o motive

651-483-4055

U.S. Army CPL

Joseph King U.S. Army / Military Intelligence / Major Afghanistan/South Korea Currently stationed at U.S. Military Academy at West Poin.

William Hart

Donald F. Nelson

David Conde

Larry Harmer

U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Korea-Vietnam

U.S. Army CPL Korea

U.S. Marine CPL E-4

U.S. Army SP5 Vietnam War

WHY CHOOSE US?

Fa i rwaY

Donald F. Nelson

Family owned and operated since 1975 (46 years) Certified Expert Technicians Lifetime Warranty Collision & Mechanical Services Hail Damage Specialists

www.fairwaycollisioncenter.com

125 E. Cty Rd. F • Vadnais Heights, 55127

WE SUPPORT OUR TROOPS!

723839

Jason Arcand U.S. Coast Guard E-5, Petty Officer 2nd Class Duluth MN

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20

THE CITIZEN

DECEMBER 30, 2021 www.readthecitizen.com

Upon a new year and this Holiday season, we pause to remember the lives we have lost. Our thoughts and prayers go out to our family, friends and neighbors still mourning the loss of loved ones. Together we honor their memories and wish everyone peace.

Caroline May (Bartels) Foss

John (Jack) L. LeMay

Richard (Dick) Dale Edwards

Charlotte (Axelson) Smith

Phyllis Jane Watters

Robert Clarence Watters

May 29, 1934 – November 13, 2021

August 19, 1936 – October 19, 2021

January 9, 1935 – October 6, 2021

July 6, 1923 - February 8, 2021

April 4, 1926 – October 21, 2021

October 5, 1924 - September 29, 2021

In memory of…

Travis Younghans

Joan Adell Michaud

October 10, 1932 – November 16, 2021

Raymond (Bud) Carl Lundell

February 13, 1936 – November 18, 2021

The last thing you texted to me was . . .

“Love you more Gram” So, back at you LUM Merry Christmas! GiGi

Save the Date th

37 Annual Wedding Show SUNDAY, JANUARY 9 • 11AM - 2PM BEST WESTERN PLUS, WHITE BEAR LAKE Enjoy Local, Trusted Vendors Door prizes, samplings and much more!

Admission $5 per person • Brides are FREE! SCAN ME!

SPONSORED BY THE BEST WESTERN PLUS IN WHITE BEAR LAKE

Purchase tickets online at presspubs.com or call 651-407-1200 to reserve your tickets