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LINO LAKES RESIDENT: Will swim 2.1 miles to raise $25K. PAGE 10
Residents speak-up on County Road J, 35E interchange BY SHANNON GRANHOLM MANAGING EDITOR
SHANNON GRANHOOM | PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Yoga at the farm In addition to its weekly flower farm market on Wednesdays from 5 to 8 p.m. this summer, T and Nae have launched “gentle yoga” at the Hugo farm Tuesdays from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. through Aug. 29. The 60-minute class of gentle movements is designed for all skill levels. The farm is located at 15815 Elmcrest Ave. For more information, visit tandnae.com.
Come 2025, the County Road J and I-35E interchange could look drastically different than it does today. County Road J from Centerville Road to Otter Lake Road – including the interchange with I-35E – is scheduled for reconstruction in 2025. Ramsey County is leading the project in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Transportation, Anoka County, White Bear Township, North Oaks and Lino Lakes. Two watershed districts, the Rice Creek Watershed District and the Vadnais Lake Water Management Organization are also involved. The existing I-35E and County Road J interchange –and the surrounding area – has safety, congestion, and access issues that impact pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists. Additional development is expected near the interchange in the next five years, which will increase traffic and worsen safety issues. Three areas are targeted for improvement include: • The I-35E and County Road J interchange. • County Road J from Centerville Road to Otter Lake Road. • Centerville Road from County Road J to North Ash Street. “A major reason for the project was we wanted to make that a full interchange and then also provide SEE INTERCHANGE, PAGE 2
North Metro Fire Buff: Meet the guy behind the camera Any time 14-year-old Caleb Koskela hears sirens going by his home in Lino Lakes, he has to go check and see what’s going on. Koskela is the guy behind the North Metro Fire Buff social media platforms. He will be a ninth grader at Centennial High School this fall. He is fascinated by all things fire because he grew up around fire departments. His father, Brent Koskela, has been a firefighter for 29 years. Brent served on the Centennial Fire District for nine years before he left to go to his current fire department, Lake Johanna. “I always followed him around… just kind of learning everything,” Caleb explained. Around a year and a half ago, Caleb started noticing people taking pictures at fire scenes and posting them online, and that piqued his interest. He started taking videos on his cellphone,
posting them online, and people started to share them. In January 2022, Caleb posted his first TikTok video, and he now has Facebook, Instagram and YouTube. About a month ago, Caleb purchased his first camera, a Cannon Rebel T7, with money he saved up from umping for Centennial softball. He was inspired to be known as “North Metro Fire Buff” because he primarily covers scenes in the north metro and fire photographers are often called “fire buffs.” Many of the area fire departments have come to know Caleb and his work. “We live near a busy road and they always pass by and honk at me,” Caleb said. In addition to often hearing the commotion go by his house, Caleb stays up to date on north metro happenings with a mobile app called Pulse Point, which shows the calls that departments SEE FIRE BUFF, PAGE 16
Fa i rwaY
CAPITAL CITY FIRE PHOTOGRAPHY | CONTRIBUTED
Caleb Koskela, 14, of Lino Lakes, is known as the “North Metro Fire Buff.” He travels around the north metro, taking photographs and videos of all things fire.
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