Quad Community Press

Military families share journeys of sacrifice, resilience

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

At the age of 11, Kate has attended six different elementary schools. Kate is one of the more than 16,000 children in Minnesota who have at least one parent currently serving in the military. April is Month of the Military Child. Started in 1986 by former Secretary of Defense Caspar Weinberger, the Month of the Military Child allows Americans to celebrate military children for their service on the homefront and in their communities.

“Children of military parents in Minnesota often make difficult adjustments in their daily lives as they wait for their parent’s safe return home,” Gov. Tim Walz wrote in a proclamation. “It is fitting and proper that we recognize and honor the sacrifices of military families, their

spirit and dedication, and remind our service members in uniform that while they are safeguarding our freedom and way of life, we are taking care of their children as a community.”

Meyer family

Leah Meyer, of Lino Lakes, has served in the Air Force for 18 years and has been deployed three times. She is a mother of three — Charli, 13, Kate, 11, and Henry, 7. She currently serves as the commander of the Air Force ROTC at the University of St. Thomas.

“They have been exposed to more in their 13, 11 and seven years on the planet than I was up until I was an adult,” Meyer reflected. “I think they’ve seen up close what sacrifice means. My service has meant their

page 3.

Celebrate Earth Day

Centurions headed to worlds

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

For the first time in 16 years, Centennial High School’s robotics team, the Centurions, is headed to compete in the world championship this week.

About a week ago, team members learned they would be traveling to Houston, Texas, after they received the FIRST Impact Award at a regional competition at the University of Minnesota.

“It was a good surprise,” said Dan Cafferty, one of the coaches.

“The last couple of years we've been working pretty hard for it (the FIRST Impact Award), so this year we were pleasantly surprised that we won.”

The For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology (FIRST) Impact Award is the most prestigious award at FIRST, a global nonprofit organization that prepares young people for the future through a suite of inclusive, team-based robotics programs for ages 4-18.

The award honors the team that best represents a model for other teams to emulate and best embodies the mission of FIRST. It recognizes a team's achievements over the past three years and not for its accomplishments in a single season.

“The award is all about your impact

on your community,” explained junior Quinn Foreman. Foreman and senior Axel Freimuth had to write a 10,000word essay detailing their team’s impact on the community. Along with freshmen Charlie Stein and Emma Harris, they presented on the topic in front of a panel of judges.

Foreman explained that one way the team has a unique impact on the community is through its outreach program at each of the elementary schools. “There is a whole bunch of different cities that we can connect with,” she said.

The team also offers a “safe space” for some of the team’s unique demographics. Approximately 30% of the team is made up of female students, and the team has people of various ethnic backgrounds and skill sets.

The team was able to demonstrate its impact with its “Go Baby Go” project, which it finished last summer. The team designed and built a motorized wheelchair for an 8-yearold boy who is paraplegic. He moved into the area from Ukraine.

“It was really about his independence,” Foreman explained. “His parents were able to have peace of mind because of the safety features SEE

ANOKA COUNTY | CONTRIBUTED

The Wargo Nature Center will host an Earth Day celebration and Sugar Bush Sound Garden from noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20. For more information, see

Charli (left), Henry and Kate Meyer, of Lino Lakes, are military children. Their mother, Leah Meyer, has served in the Air Force for 18 years. Wear purple to celebrate military children all month long. The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) will celebrate Purple Up Day April 19.

• Sam Bennett, of Lino Lakes, is requesting the city’s help to spread the word in the city newsletter and on social media about a planned Adopt A Highway event. The event is tentatively scheduled for May. Bennett is currently working on finding local businesses to sponsor the event. Bennett is planning to hold this event twice a year, once in the spring and once in the fall.

“I think everyone agrees ... this time of year, (the trash along the roads are) the worst,” he said. The council suggested Bennett contact the county to discuss possible advertisement.

• Mayor Gary Grote would like to see the council establish better communication with the Centennial Lakes Police Department. He explained that there was a shooting that occurred two months ago, but it was not included in the police reports.

• A citizen who lives near Memorial Park is concerned about the rubber mulch in the playground area of Memorial Park. She said the rubber mulch has a strong, unpleasant smell to it and the blue dye it uses has been staining playground equipment and children’s skin and clothes. A worker who helped install the mulch explained that the rubber mulch is a safer alternative to wood chips, adding that he hadn’t seen the dye stain anything. The council agreed to look into the matter further.

• Lexington is working with Mediation and Restorative Services (MARS), a nonprofit in Anoka County dedicated to offering affordable mediation services for families and communities that otherwise would not have access to such services. Lexington has worked with MARS in the past and expects to continue using its services in 2024.

• Edward Jones is the city’s newest peddler license holder.

• The city will pay $53,855 for a new identification sign to be installed in front of City Hall.

• The city is accepting bids until May 1 for its 2024 street improvement project. The project will include Griggs Avenue between Flowerfield Road and Restwood Road; and Griggs Avenue from Restwood Road to approximately 375 feet north of Restwood Road. Construction is set to begin this May or June.

Hannah Testa

Developer addresses ‘misinformation’

BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR

LINO LAKES —  The Madinah Lakes concept continues to be a topic of discussion around the Quad area.

President Faraaz Yussuf of Zikar Holdings has now visited the City Council twice to address what he called “misconceptions” about the project and himself. (See “Social media posts swirl about Madinah Lakes” April 2.)

“I’m here to share my story, not just as a means for personal redemption, but also as a testament to resilience of the human spirit,” he said. Yussuf shared that he has had past legal challenges, most noticeably a conviction 11 years ago.

“It is a chapter of my life that I neither shy away from nor do I try to hide it. Yes, there was a time that I made mistakes when I found myself in the wrong company and when I paid the price for my error in judgment,” Yussuf said. “I stand before you today as someone who has served their time, paid their dues and emerged from those dark days with a newfound determination to make an impact in the world.”

450 families. The project has been described to include apartments, townhomes, villas, single-family homes of all sizes and senior living homes; a park pavilion, soccer fields and tennis courts; restaurants/coffee and retail shops; day care and banquet facilities; and a $15 million, 40,000-square-foot masjid, or mosque.

Yussuf shared that as an entrepreneur, he has faced many challenges and “frivolous” lawsuits.

“(Madinah Lakes) is a venture that I believe will hold immense promise for our community, yet I’m aware that there are those who seek to undermine my efforts who use my past mistakes as a means to cast doubt on the integrity of this project,” he said. “My past does not define who I am. It is a part of who I am, yes, but it does not dictate my future or the worthiness of this endeavor.”

me by my mistakes in the past, but by the promise of a better future.”

Lino Lakes resident Sara Shady said she supports the project and urged the community to take the opportunity to reach out to Yussuf himself, as he has suggested previously. Dr. Shady is a professor of philosophy and associate dean for academic inclusive excellence at Bethel University.

with human dignity just like the rest of us do. To my knowledge, no other developer to a proposed development in the city of Lino Lakes has been subjected to this level of public scrutiny.”

Shady said that once the city receives the application for Madinah Lakes, there will be many opportunities for neighbors to weigh in on the proposed project.

“In the meantime, I encourage everyone in the community to get to know Faraaz and his community.”

Yussuf said when the time comes and the City Council needs to evaluate the development applications, he hoped the council would evaluate the project on the basis of the application in front of them and not on hearsay.

She explained that she and her husband took Yussaf up on his offer to learn more about the proposal. “My husband and I spent two hours with him asking questions and learning about the development. We left feeling energized and excited about the cultural, religious and economic diversity this project will bring to our city,” she explained.

Although the city has yet to receive applications for the project, developer Zikar Holdings is proposing a development to be known as Madinah Lakes on land located approximately 1.5 miles east of Lexington Avenue on the south side of Main Street (County Road 14), near the city’s border with Blaine. The 156-acre development would be home to over

“We have worked tirelessly to ensure that this development will bring about positive change, create jobs, boost the local economy and enhance the quality of life for those who will call this place home,” he said. “I ask for your open minds, your thoughtful consideration and your willingness not to judge

She said it seems that whenever factual information is shared about the project, it is met by false information. “It seems that people prefer to spread suspicion, fear and misinformation instead of simply asking questions and getting answers to them,” she said. “Digging into his past is unfair … Faraaz deserves to be treated

She added, “I have been utterly dismayed by the amount of hate, suspicion and misinformation being spread on social media about this community … They are lovely people who have lived in Minnesota for many generations. They are Americans just like you and I, and they deserve to be welcomed into our community in the same way I was welcomed when I moved here 22 and a half years ago.”

President Faraaz Yussuf of Zikar Holdings continues to address what he calls misconceptions about Madinah Lakes.

EARTH DAY BRIEFS

FROM PAGE 1

All invited to join in ‘Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge’

All are welcome and invited to assist Anoka County Parks staff with its Mighty Mississippi Cleanup Challenge this spring. The event aims to help improve the quality of the river by removing refuse from its banks.

There are three opportunities to volunteer:

• Noon to 2 p.m. Monday, April 22: Coon Rapids Dam Regional Park, 9750 Egret Blvd. NW, Coon Rapids. Volunteers should meet at the Visitor Center.

• 10 a.m. to noon Wednesday, April 24: Riverfront Regional Park, 5100 E River Rd., Fridley. Volunteers should meet at the Riedel Farmhouse.

• 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, April 27: Mississippi West Regional Park, 13900 Traprock St., Ramsey. Volunteers should meet at the boat launch.

Call 763-324-3413 to RSVP to one or more cleanup events and for more information. Attendees are asked to wear closed-toe shoes and gloves. Anoka County Parks will issue garbage and recycle bags to separate and recycle waste. Parks Department staff and equipment will be present at these events to address the removal of any large or hazardous items.

“I kayak on various rivers during the summer months and am very happy to see this effort,” said Parks Committee Chair Jeff Reinert. “Hats off to Goodhue County for starting this annual cleanup and to Anoka County for also promoting and participating in it. I’m hoping for another successful cleanup and want to extend my thanks to all who will be volunteering.”

Circle Pines hosts recycle/ cleanup day

The city of Circle Pines will host a recycle/ cleanup day from 8 a.m. to noon Saturday, April 27, at the public works facility, located at 760 Civic Heights Drive. Residents can clean out their garages and storage spaces to get rid of unwanted/unused items. Residents must show their ID and can bring all materials that can be disposed of on regular garbage days with the exception of curbside recyclables, hazardous waste and yard waste. Several electronics, appliances, automotive items, bulbs and other miscellaneous items can be disposed of for free. Garbage will also be accepted for a fee. Residents should also bring unused eyeglasses, sunglasses and hearing aids to be donated for the Minnesota Lions. Nonperishable

items will also be collected for the Centennial Community Food Shelf.

Lino Lakes hosts Recycling Saturdays

The city of Lino Lakes will host its monthly Recycling Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Lino Park, located at 7850 Lake Drive. The event is held on the third Saturday of the month. Residents and small businesses are welcome to attend.

Items that will be accepted include aluminum cans, appliances, batteries, bicycles, computer monitors, furniture, grills, hide-a-beds, hard drives, mattresses, miscellaneous electronics, scrap metal, small engine equipment, tires, televisions, wheelchairs and more. Trash and cardboard will not be accepted. (For full list of items and prices, visit https://linolakes.us/497/ Recycle-Saturdays.)

Hearing aids and eyeglasses can be recycled at City Hall, thanks to the Minnesota Lions Vision Foundation. For more information, or questions, contact 651-982-2423

Wargo puts on Earth Day Celebration

From noon to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, Wargo Nature Center will host its annual Earth Day Celebration in partnership with the city of Lino Lakes, Anoka County Libraries and Wavelets Creative. This free, family-friendly event includes live performances, earth art projects, a Dakota Language scavenger hunt, an Eco-Fair and the Sugar Bush Sound Garden. Created and designed by award-winning composer JG Everest, sound gardens are largescale sound installations that use more than 50 small speakers to create immersive ecosystems of sound that layer and mingle with existing sounds in nature. Each speaker plays a different part of the whole piece of music so that every step, every turn of the head, and every bird song and shifting breeze results in a different mix and arrangement of the music.

This will be the third time Wargo has hosted a sound garden for a special event and will include live roving dancers and musical accompaniment by the Free Range Orchestra & Choir, and a special song by Blue Lady. Visit anokacountyparks.com/earthday for more information and to sign up for a volunteer service project before the celebration. The Sugar Bush Sound Garden is presented by Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Legacy Fund.

LINO LAKES CITY COUNCIL SNIPPETS

• Finance Director Hannah Lynch will serve as the interim city clerk, after City Clerk Joleen Chaika resigned from the position. Lynch will serve in the role until a permanent replacement is identified.

• Edward Jones, located at 19304 Lexington Ave. in Circle Pines, now has the OK to travel door-to-door throughout neighborhoods in Lino Lakes for the next six months.

• The city continues to hire staff for the Rookery Activity Center (RAC). In addition to four part-time positions in aquatics (lifeguards and aquatics lead), the city has appointed Mikaela Bagley as the new coordinator. Bagley will start April 21. Her hourly rate of pay will be $33.00, which is the first step of a six-step wage schedule. Bagley is currently the interim head aquatics lead at the RAC.

• The Rice Lake Elementary Parent Teacher Organization plans to host a spring carnival May 19. The event will include food trucks, DJ, craft vendors and bounce houses.

• The city’s public safety department will enter into two separate grant agreements in an effort to hire more police officers to fill current vacancies. Swenson explained that the city has been awarded $50,000 under the 2024 Intensive and Comprehensive Peace Officer Education and Training (ICPOET) grant program.

“This was developed out of the (20)23 legislative session in an effort to address the shortage of applicants for vacant positions of police officers throughout the state,” Swenson said. The program allows agencies to hire individuals who have two- or four-year degrees in any field and want to make a career transition to policing.

The city is also the recipient of an approximately $67,000 grant under the 2024 Pathways to Policing Reimbursement grant program. Under the program,

agencies can hire individuals who want to start a career as a police officer but do not have a college degree. As a part of the Pathways grant, the city is required to provide an equal match, which is accounted for in the police budget, Swenson said.

• Work continues on the city’s largest housing development. Watermark is a 372-acre masterplanned residential community consisting of 692 single-family lots and 172 townhome units, totaling 864 housing units. The council recently approved Lennar’s applications for a planned unit development (PUD) final plat, development agreement, PUD development agreement and open space easement agreement for Watermark 7th addition.

City Planner Katie Larsen explained that the approvals plat 106 single-family lots and eight outlots. After this, 97 lots remain.

• Community Development Director Michael Grochala warns motorists to expect delays on County Road J/CSAH 49 now that the reconstruction project has started. Motorists should expect one-way traffic, and detour signs will be posted (if they aren’t already). Although final restoration work will take place in 2025, the project should be complete after this construction season, he said.

• The city will pay $33,000 to acquire property located at 698 77th Street for the 77th Street/ Marketplace Drive realignment project. Grochala said because of the sale, the city will no longer need to go through the right-of-way acquisition process.

The next City Council meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. Monday, April 22, in Council Chambers at City Hall. There will also be a work session immediately beforehand at 6 p.m. in the Community Room at City Hall.

Shannon Granholm

Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center

What I’ve learned since becoming a journalist

TMadeline’s Mail

Madeline Dolby

here is so much I have learned since becoming a journalist, mainly how to write in AP style. Growing up, I did not pay much attention to local news. My grandparents always had a copy of their Sunday paper sitting on the kitchen table when I visited. I never paid much attention to it because I did not think it was relevant. I didn’t understand the power of local, community, news. I blame this opinion on the generation I grew up in. Almost everything I learned about the world came from social media and definitely was biased or skewed. I only cared about the local news when it had something to do with me, mainly my track and field career. I never cared for reading the city council notes from the latest meeting or learning about a local organization. I liked to read the sports page and that was about it.

In college, I took a mass media class and learned the importance of journalism. My professor was an opinion columnist. He did not focus on hyper-local news, but he always spoke about how important it was to try and make your stories as local as possible. He interviewed a few celebrities here and there, but he mainly wrote about local comedy clubs. The keyword there being “local.”

When I joined Press Publications last July, I was a bit nervous because I would have to introduce myself to a close-knit community where no one knew me. I remember attending my first city council meeting scared out of my mind to meet the Mayor of Shoreview. Turns out I had nothing to be worried about. She sat down right beside me, introduced herself, told me she was glad I was there and thanked me for covering the meeting and all that I did for the community. The city manager did the same. I felt so welcomed and it was only my second week on the job.

Since that meeting I have made many connections within the Shoreview community ranging from city officials to residents. It is so rewarding to hear from residents how much they enjoy reading about their fellow neighbors and everything their community has to offer. I enjoy writing about local, community news as much as my readers enjoy consuming it. It brings me such joy knowing I am bringing quality news to residents’ doorsteps.

Please let us continue to bring joy to your doorstep or mailbox. My fellow journalists love their communities just as much as me. Their communities are engaged and passionate about local news as the residents in Shoreview. Thank you to all those who continue to support us and those who have in the past.

If you have read or learned something that was beneficial to your family or life in our community in the past month, I would like to ask you to subscribe today by calling our office, filling out the envelope or flyer that was stuffed in all of our newspapers or subscribe online at www.presspubs.com. Thank you for choosing our newspapers as your source for community news.

Madeline Dolby is a Staff Writer at Press Publications. She can be reached at 651-431-1226 or shoreviewnews@presspubs.com.

LEmbracing native plants

ush green lawns have long been the idyllic image of the American home. As we face climate change-induced heat waves and water scarcity, it’s time to rethink our gardening practices. Shifting our mindset from conventional lawns and nonnative gardens to native species can benefit both our environment and our wellbeing.

Traditional lawns, often dominated by Kentucky bluegrass, demand a lot of water, fertilizers and pesticides. They also require frequent mowing, and their uniformity leaves little room for biodiversity. What if we could transform our yards into more vibrant, ecologically rich spaces that help support local wildlife, conserve resources, and even reduce pollution?

Enter xeriscaping and native plants. Xeriscaping is a method of landscape design with the goal of creating water-efficient yards that require little irrigation beyond what is provided naturally. The most important aspect of xeriscaping is selecting appropriate plants for the specific climate. In arid regions, homeowners mimic

the desert environment by using specifically placed rocks, pebbles, and native plants such as cacti. In areas with more rainfall, homeowners incorporate meadows with no-mow grasses and native flowers to attract local pollinators such as bees and butterflies.

Native plants play a key role in creating sustainable, water-efficient yards because they have evolved to thrive in local climates, soil types, and conditions. They are readily established and naturally hardier than non-native plants, and they require minimal care once established. Unlike conventional grasses, native plants also provide essential spaces for wildlife. By reducing your lawn and incorporating more native plants, you will say goodbye to excessive watering, mowing, fertilizing, and pesticides and say hello to more pollinators.

Tips for creating your native paradise:

• Assess your needs: Consider your water supply, local climate, and surrounding environment. Choose native plants that suit your specific conditions.

• Include diverse plantings: A well-designed xeriscaped garden includes a variety of native plants suited to the available water supply. Think about local pollinators as you select your species of trees, shrubs, and perennials and consider the water requirements for each plant.

• Create tiny wildlands: Imagine

the impact of turning half of the 40 million acres of lawns in the United States into smaller areas abundant in native grasses, shrubs, and other water-wise plants. While this might sound overwhelming, we can all start by making small changes such as adding a native garden or planting some pollinator-friendly shrubs. Collectively, small changes make a big impact on biodiversity.

• Utilize local resources: The University of Minnesota Extension can help you find the correct plants for your space. The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources keeps a statewide list of local native plant suppliers, landscapers, and restoration consultants.

Transitioning from manicured lawns to native landscapes means embracing a more sustainable future. With native species, your yard will become a haven for life-buzzing insects, colorful birds, and resilient plants while you contribute to a healthier ecosystem. Break free from the conventional lawn mold and help create a legacy of environmental stewardship with native plants, one yard at a time.

For more information, visit www.anokamastergardeners.org. Brenda Ortmann

WEAR PURPLE: To celebrate military children for their service all month long

sacrifice, too. The Air Force tells me when to move and where I’m going … I might have a say, but they are just along for the ride.”

In total, Meyer has had to relocate nine times. Charli has moved six times, Kate has moved five times and Henry has moved four times. The family has lived in Lino Lakes since last July.

“They have learned a lot about making adjustments and starting over,” she said.

Charli said the hardest thing about her mother being in the military is

BY THE NUMBERS

1.6 million military children in the U.S. 2 to 3 years how frequently military families move, on average 16,000 children in Minnesota have at least one parent currently serving in the military 1986 The year Month of the Military Child was established

not only having to move so often but also being far away from family.

“It is not easy. You have to make sacrifices,” she said. “The worst part of the military is when we have to pick up and move, but I like where we are stationed a lot, and it is easy for me to adjust.”

Kate added, “It is really hard to move away from people and all of your friends, but it’s great to make new experiences. I think it’s fun to travel.” According to one of Kate’s teachers, “You can put her in any classroom; by the end of the day she’ll have made friends and try to be in charge.” Meyer added, “She’s really good at meeting new people and being in a new environment.”

Being a military child also has some perks. Charli got to go on a field trip to Gettysburg, and Kate visited the Pentagon with some of her friends.

“I think they understand a lot more about how the world works than most kids their age. They can tell you about the branches of the military, they can talk about how the government works,” Meyer explained. “They can tell you that Djibouti is a country, because mom was deployed there.”

Charli and Kate have witnessed that females can be strong leaders too, as they have witnessed their mom run two units. “The sky is the limit for these girls; they are going to change the world.”

Scully family

Ashley Nicole Scully, married to Ashlea Morgan Scully (who goes by Scully), is currently deployed to the Middle East. She has been there since June.

The two met while they were on active duty. Scully, who served in the Navy for eight years, was a K-9 handler, and Ashley is a vet technician in the Army. Scully retired from the military in 2020.

The Lino Lakes couple has been married for five years and has two children, Reese, 9, and Riley, 2.

“Since my mama is in the military, I don’t get to see her much,” Reese said. “I only get to see her like a quarter of

Call for the Arts

Since 2002, thousands of militaryconnected children have shared their experiences, dreams and challenges through art. The Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC) invites military-connected children from all over the world, representing every branch of service, to share interpretations through art of what it means to be a military-connected child.

Using any medium, children in grades K-12 can share what being a military-connected child means to them. There will be a first-, secondand third-place winner. Entries will be accepted through April 30, and winners will be announced by the end of May.

For more information, visit www. militarychild.org/programs-andinitiatives/the-call-for-the-arts.

Purple Up

Wear purple to celebrate military kids all month long. Purple references the joint environment of the military, encompassing all service branches, Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard and Veterans. Purple combines each branch’s colors into one: the Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard all use shades of blue, the Army uses green, and the Marines use red. MCEC will celebrate Purple Up Day April 19.

the time.”

Staying in touch with her mama is challenging not only because of the lack of good Wi-Fi, but also the time difference. “When we wake up is the only time we can talk to her, because during the day she’s falling asleep,” Reese explained.

This deployment has also been a challenge because Reese takes her job of taking care of her little sister very seriously.

“Reese is a very resilient, tough girl … I think having a little sister this go-around definitely gives her more of a purpose,” Scully said. “Every military kid, no matter how young they are, has a certain role to play … We are one cohesive unit.”

Managing Editor Shannon Granholm can be reached at 651-4071227 or quadnews@presspubs.com.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

Riley (left) and Reese’s mother Ashley Scully (left) is currently deployed to the Middle East. Ashlea Scully (who goes by Scully) also served in the Navy for eight years. Below, Riley, points to her mama at a Veterans Day program at a local school.

PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED

The Meyer family of Lino Lakes.

SOFTBALL

The Cougars edged Coon Rapids 3-2 last Tuesday, then absorbed their first conference loss Friday when Maple Grove routed them 11-1. Maple Grove is ranked No. 2 in the metro area. Centennial is 3-1 in the Northwest Suburban and 3-2 overall. Against Coon Rapids, Riley O’Connell fired a two-hitter with no walks and 12 strikeouts. Kendall Seidenkranz doubled home a run, Kendall Cochran hit a sac fly, and Lily Gilmore had a single and scored twice.

TRACK

Centennial hosted a sixteam meet Thursday with the Cougar boys and girls each placing third. Blaine won both meets. Event winners for the Cougars boys were Noah Berg in the 800 run (2:11.47) and Owen Carter in discus (105-7), and for the girls Anna Swanson in the 800 run (2:38.38) and Isabella Kuller in high jump (4-6).

GIRLS LACROSSE

Centennial opened with a win over Grand Rapids/ Greenway, 10-7, at home Friday evening. Details were not available as of press time.

TENNIS

Centennal lost to Osseo 4-3 in their conference opener Thursday. Osseo swept the singles matches. Centennial swept the doubles matches with Drew Gangl/Ander Julson at No. 1, Justin Driver/ Kellen Tieu at No. 2 and Isaac Lutz/Caleb Nelson at No. 3. The singles lineup was  JJ Bliss,  Ryan Koslowski, Anand Seemakurthy and Zachary Thompson at 1 through 4.

Bruce Strand

Cougars trip Orioles, Cardinals, lose to Crimson

BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR

Centennial picked up two victories last week before Maple Grove handed the Cougars their first loss in extra innings. The Cougars are 3-1 overall and 2-1 in the Northwest Suburban.

Tyler Gruye threw six shutout innings, leading the Cougars to a 5-0 win over St. Louis Park at home Monday. Gruye limited the Orioles to four hits and one walk, striking out five. Tommy Meyer pitched the final inning.

The Cougars got all five runs in the fifth inning. Jack D’Agostino knocked in two runs with a double, and Caden Coppersmith and Peyton Streit each singled home a run. Streit had two of the Cougars’ six hits.

Centennial thumped the Coon Rapids Cardinals 9-2 at home Tuesday. Josh Lee threw six innings (three hits, one earned run, eight strikeouts) and Luke Gunderman pitched a scoreless seventh. Peyton Streit was 3-for4 with a double, two runs, and an RBI. D’Agostino notched two doubles and two RBI’s, Aiden Lieser a double and RBI, Mav Harper a single and RBI, and Tyler Escobedo a single, walk, and two runs.

JON NAMYST | CONTRIBUTED

Josh Lee, shown here in a previous game, was the winning pitcher against Coon Rapids.

Maple Grove tripped the Cougars 2-1 in nine innings Thursday behind pitchers Evan O’Dwyer (five shutout innings, six strikeouts) and Brody Bergen (four innings, one run). Pitching for Centennial were Gunderman (four innings, one run), Lieser (three shutout innings, five strikeouts) and Coppersmith (1 2/3 innings, one run), taking the loss. Centennial  had just four hits, two by Coppersmith. The Crimson had six hits, three by Nathan Schmidt.

WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING • WHAT’S HAPPENING

ONGOING EVENTS

HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’

When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, April 18; and the 1st, 3rd and 5th Thursday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N.

Details: Games begin at 12:45 p.m. Refreshments and coffee served. All senior citizens from the area invited.

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

CRIBBAGE

When: 12:45 p.m. Monday, April 22; the 4th Monday of every month

Where: Rice Lake Centre, 6900 137th Street N., Hugo

Details: Senior citizens from Hugo and surrounding area are invited to an afternoon of cribbage. Coffee and refreshments served.

Contact: 651-429-4413

CURRENT EVENTS

‘MICRONESIAN OUTRIGGER SAILING IN MNI SOTA

MAKOCE’

When: 6-7:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18

Where: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 4th St.

Details: Multimedia presentation about The Native Canoe Program at the Department of American Indian Studies at the University of MinnesotaTwin Cities and its effort to research, teach, and serve the community through the revitalization of Indigenous watercraft from the Pacific and from Dakota and Ojibwe culture and history.

Contact: whitebearhistory.org

SHOREVIEW

NORTHERN LIGHTS VARIETY BAND SPRING CONCERT

When: 7 p.m. Saturday, April 20

Where: Benson Great Hall, Bethel University

Details: Ninety-minute concert by local community band features “Spring in Bloom” theme. Tickets available online or at Shoreview City Hall.

Contact: snlvb.com or tickets.bethel.edu

SAVING YOUR STUFF: HOW TO CARE FOR ART, HEIRLOOMS, AND PERSONAL COLLECTIONS

When: 6-7 p.m. Monday, April 22

Where: White Bear Lake Armory, 2228 4th St.

Details: Join Megan Narvey, Outreach Conservator at the Minnesota Historical Society to learn about the “ten agents of deterioration” and how to preserve and protect the things you value. Presentation followed by Q & A. Free.

Contact: whitebearhistory.org

Lino Lakes Elementary Spring Carnival

When: 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, April 20

Where: Lino Lakes Elementary, 725 Main St.

Details: Games and prizes, food, snacks, drawings, basket raffle, and magic show.

  -  

The Lino Lakes Police Department reports the following incidents:

• An officer took a report of suspicious activity in the 6600 block of Pheasant Run April 2. The incident was documented.

• Officers responded to a report of a missing person in the 7500 block of Fourth Avenue April 3. The investigation is ongoing.

• An officer received a call of a possible impaired driver on I-35E near Ash Street April 4. The officer stopped the vehicle for illegal driving conduct and arrested the adult male driver for driving under the influence of a controlled substance. A search warrant was executed, and a blood sample was collected. Charges are pending.

• Officers responded to a residence in the 600 block of Highland Trail to arrest an adult male on some outstanding warrants April 4. An adult male was arrested on the warrants and for trespassing. The male was booked into jail.

• An officer was dispatched to a phone call report regarding fraud in the 6500 block of Langer Lane April 4. The incident was documented, and the caller was provided with resources.

• A community service officer responded to a report of an unsecure pipe cover along a walking trail in the 1200 block of Birch Street April 5. The pipe cover was secured.

• An officer took a phone call regarding a possible scam on Willow Pond Trail April 5. It was determined a theft occurred. The investigation is ongoing.

• An officer was dispatched to a residence in the 600 block of Arlo Lane regarding damage to property April 5. The caller did not wish to pursue any charges and a suspect was spoken to regarding the damage.

• An officer was dispatched to private property in the 7500 block of Fourth Avenue regarding a motor vehicle personal injury accident April 5. Two occupants of one of the vehicles involved were transported by ambulance to a hospital. The incident was documented.

• An officer observed two vehicles

POLITICAL BRIEF

racing on I-35W April 6. Both vehicles were stopped, and two adult males were cited for going 100 mph in a 70-mph zone.

• Officers responded to a structure fire in the 6300 block of Hodgson Road April 6. Officers provided assistance to fire/rescue personnel, who put out the fire.

• An officer took a report of found property involving credit cards in the 600 block of Apollo Drive April 6. The officer determined the credit cards were from a recent theft in a neighboring city. The owner and the neighboring agency were notified.

• An officer responded to a report of shoplifting at a retail store in the 700 block of Apollo Drive April 6. The suspect was cooperative with store employees and was cited for theft.

• An officer received a complaint of dirt bikes driving on a roadway in the 8000 block of Lake Drive April 6. The officer couldn’t locate the dirt bikes.

• Officers responded to a report of suspicious activity in the 6600 block of Sherman Lake Road April 6. Two males with covered faces approached the front door of a home while the homeowner was out of town. Officers located four juvenile males who had been ringing doorbells and running away from homes. Parents were contacted to pick up the juveniles.

• An officer responded to a business on a request to check a male who was reportedly acting suspiciously in the 7700 block of Lake Drive April 7. The officer located the male in a wooded area poking the ground with a stick. The male, who was known to the officer, said he was walking home but had no logical reason for being in the area or for his behavior. The male was offered a ride home, which he declined, and he left the area walking toward home on a roadway.

• A community service officer responded to a report of graffiti in a city park in the 6500 block of Pheasant Run South April 8. The incident was documented, and public works was notified for cleanup.

Kreun bill eases burden of drivers’ license renewals

Sen. Michael Kreun (R-Blaine) has authored legislation that seeks to ease the burden on those looking to renew their Minnesota drivers’ licenses. The bill creates an online renewal option for licenses and allows those who have a valid license to designate a secondary mailing address for license and identification card renewals. This would be beneficial for “snowbirds” who have a secondary address, and for Minnesotans who are traveling or serving in the military.

“This is a commonsense bill that will not only help make things easier for snowbirds and those looking to renew their licenses, but will also make life easier for all Minnesotans when renewing their driver’s licenses,” said Kreun. “Many Minnesotans dread upcoming renewals, because it often means driving extended distances to a licensing location, waiting in line and waiting weeks for their new licenses to be delivered. This bill truly presents a win-win for all parties and makes the entire process easy and streamlined for all involved.”

The bill language allows online license renewals to occur when the applicant has both a picture on file that is not older than five years, as well as proof of an adequate vision examination certificate that is not more than two years old. This would effectively allow for online renewal for every other renewal. The bill does not allow first-time applications to be submitted online.

The bipartisan bill was heard in the Senate Transportation Committee and will be considered for possible inclusion in the transportation omnibus bill.

• An officer took a report of a fraud situation in the 6400 block of Fox Road April 8. Someone had pretended to be with a sheriff's office. The complainant had not lost any money and was provided with resources and options.

The Centennial Lakes Police Department reports the following incidents:

• Police responded to the 9000 block of Lexington Avenue in Lexington for a trespass notice April 3.

• Police responded to the 9100 block of South Highway Drive in Lexington for a report of disorderly conduct April 3.

• Police fielded a harassment report in the 6900 block of 21st Avenue South in Centerville April 3.

• Officers responded to the 1800 block of Main Street in Centerville on a report of theft April 3.

• Extra patrol was requested in the 1900 block of Eagle Trail in Centerville April 4.

• Offices received a noise complaint in the 0 block of Shady Way in Circle Pines April 5.

• An officer located damage to property in the 9100 block of Hamline Avenue in Lexington April 5.

• A community service officer was dispatched to the 7000 block of Centerville Road in Centerville April 5 regarding questions related to an injury caused by a dog jumping up on a female.

• A driver was arrested after a traffic stop at the intersection of Lake Drive and Woodland Road in Lexington April 6.

• A driver was taken into custody after a motor vehicle accident at the intersection of 20th Avenue and Gateway Circle in Centerville April 6.

• Officers responded to the 0 block of Central Street in Circle Pines on a report of shoplifting April 6.

• Police responded to the 8800 block of Naples Street in Lexington April 7 on a report of damage to property.

• Police responded to the 7000 block of 21st Avenue South in Centerville April 7 on a report of trespassing.

COMMUNITY BRIEF

Time to sign up for parade

It’s time to sign up for Centerville’s Fete des Lacs parade, scheduled for 11 a.m. Saturday, July 20. The Centerville Lions are searching for interesting, exciting and fun entrants for the parade. This year’s theme is “Shoot for the Moon.” There will be a contest for the best float. To sign up, complete the entry form online at https:// forms.gle/zQF6NfPmEdhiBnVY9 . For more information about Fete des Lacs or a full schedule of events, visit the festival Facebook page.

CITY BRIEFS

Lino Lakes hosts photo contest

The city of Lino Lakes is looking for scenic photos, as well as photos from events, from around the city. The photos submitted may be used on the city’s website, social media accounts or a future newsletter.

The city will identify the top photos and the finalists will be posted on Facebook. The winner will be determined by a people’s choice voting system — the image with the most “likes” will be selected as the winner. If your photo is chosen, you will win a check for $25. Photos must be submitted by May 10 to be eligible to win. Submit your photos online at www.linolakes.us/photocontest Lino Lakes hosts job fair

The city of Lino Lakes will host a job fair from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, April 18, at the Rookery Activity Center. The city is currently hiring for: firefighters (duty crew and paid-on-call), camp counselors, lifeguards, swim instructors (and other aquatic positions), child watch attendants, seasonal maintenance workers (public works) and positions at the Rookery Activity Center. Interviews will be available on the spot. To learn more about the openings, visit linolakes.us/employment .

we added.”

The students said they were surprised to win the award because they had seen the great impact other award winners have made in previous years. “You can’t even imagine winning the award when what the other teams are doing is so amazing,” Foreman said.

Adding to the shock of it all was the fact that the team had to address how to get all 30 of its members to Texas in about one week.

“We started rallying the troops to figure out what it was going to cost and how we were going to do this,” Cafferty said. The team’s booster club quickly tried to think through how to raise funds quickly, but then a miracle happened. The district agreed to cover costs for a bus, hotel and food.

“We didn’t think we were going to get that. It was a nice surprise,” Cafferty said. “We are so grateful.”

About the Centurions

Team 2472, The Centurions, is a FIRST robotics team established in 2007 by former head mentor John Cloues. The team last earned a spot in the world championship by achieving the Rookie All Star Award back in 2008. The team got lucky in 2009 when it earned a spot in the world championship after sitting on a waitlist.

There are approximately 200 robotics teams in the state of Minnesota. Each year, a new game is released. Teams must design a robot to play that game and score as many points as possible.

Teams then compete at regional competitions throughout the state, and the top teams, as well as special award winners earn a spot to compete in the world championships against up to 600 teams.

This year’s robot is named Minerva. “She is the Roman goddess of wisdom, and

she is a big patron of the arts, which is why we chose her. The theme of the game is music,” Foreman explained.

The robot, which weighs approximately 140 pounds, is designed to pick up and launch “notes,” or foam circles.

The team is made up of various divisions, including mechanical, CAD, media, electrical, programming as well as the drive team.

“It’s not just about the engineering and the robot, it is way more than that,” Freimuth said. “It teaches you communication … there is a graphic design element to it. We are all here for different reasons.”

“This is a great program in terms of giving kids experience. The CAD tools, 3D printers, mills we use, they use in industry,” said Ken Mechtel, one of the team’s coaches. “It's a really good baseline or starting point for the kids … The way the game is laid out, it’s like requirements for a real program. It's designed to get the kids to be thinking about what it's like in industry.”

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Members of the Centennial High School robotics teams, the Centurions, work on some refinements to their robot, Minerva, before heading to compete in the world championship.