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PUBLIC SAFETY: Update on Centennial Middle School lockdown PAGE 7
Centennial Seniors Walk at Centerville Elementary Management, majoring in finance and sales. While the senior walk is a full-circle moment for Jennifer and Kate Lee, that goes double for Michelle Matthews. She graduated from Centennial High School and is now preparing for her daughter, Abigail Matthews, to graduate. Abigail wants to major in psychology and eventually become a child therapist. She plans to balance her academics with college basketball. After 24 years of sending her children to ISD 12, Abigail’s senior walk has special meaning for Michelle. “She’s my last one. This is just the end of an era, and I can’t believe we’re here. It’s bittersweet. I’m super sad, but I’m super excited for her,” said Michelle. After a moment, Michelle began laughing, “And I’m super excited for me. I don’t
BY LOGAN GION STAFF WRITER
Jennifer Lee craned her head forward, waiting for the bus to bring her daughter, Kate Lee, from school. Instead of waiting at her house, though, she stood in front of Centerville Elementary School. Kate is a graduating senior at Centennial High School. She, along with dozens of classmates, are revisiting their primary schools before they receive their diplomas on Saturday. “It’s a happy sad, if that makes sense,” Jennifer commented. “I remember dropping my kid off at Centerville on the first day—scared to death. She’s my baby.” Thirteen years after that first day, Kate is now looking at her old classrooms one more time. Her next chapter includes heading off to the University of Minnesota Carlson School of
LOGAN GION | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Pictured from left are: Abigail Matthews, Michelle Matthews, Jennifer Lee and Kate Lee.
SEE SENIORS VISIT CENTERVILLE, PAGE 12
Lino Lakes considers banning sale of flavored tobacco, vape products
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Minnesota High School Rodeo Queen Pearl Overby barrel races at Dead Broke Arena in Hugo
Minnesota State High School Rodeo Finals rides into Hugo BY LOGAN GION STAFF WRITER
This weekend, being dead broke will be a good thing. Dead Broke Arena in Hugo
is hosting the 2026 Minnesota Rodeo High School State Finals at 7 p.m., Friday, June 12, and Saturday, June 13. Events start at noon on Sunday, June 14.
“In the equestrian world, the term ‘broke’ used to refer to a wild horse—you train SEE HIGH SCHOOL RODEO, PAGE 5
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LINO LAKES — At the April 27 city council meeting, Nathan N., a high school student, spoke during the public comment period and asked the council to consider adopting a city ordinance restricting the sale of flavored vape and tobacco products. Following Nathan’s comments, the city council requested additional information regarding the potential regulation of flavored tobacco and vape products in the city. At a recent city council work session, Lino Lakes Chief of Police Curt Boehme provided more insight into what ordinance amendments would have to be made in order for this to happen. The Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act was signed into law June 2009. It allowed the Food and Drug Administration
authority to regulate the manufacturing, distribution and marketing of tobacco products. This included a ban on the sale of cigarettes containing flavors other than menthol. The ban did not apply to other commercial tobacco products such as cigars, chewing tobacco, e-cigarettes or vape products. According to Boehme, in August 2020, Minnesota Statute 609.685 went into effect. The statute raised the minimum sales age for all tobacco products from 18 years old to 21 years old, but the new law did not address the sale of flavored products. “It (the law) also decriminalized the possession, use and purchase of tobacco products for those under the age of 21,” he added. “So, it was a civil penalty that was not a fine.”
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