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ELECTION SEASON: League of Women Voters tapes candidate forums PAGE 6
Honoring the messengers this September
Centennial Fire District taking ‘big step’ to integrate with SBM BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
CIRCLE PINES — The Centennial Fire District, and the cities it serves, continues to strengthen its partnership with the Spring Lake Park - Blaine Mounds View Fire Department. Recently, Circle Pines City Council Member Matt Percy said, SBM has approached the city about taking the next step in the partnership. According to Percy, SBM offered Circle Pines and Centerville the opportunity to contract for all fire services. The Centennial Fire District
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
At Press Publications, a vital role that ensures subscribers get their newspapers on time is performed by the company’s news carriers. Come rain or shine, carriers power through to deliver the news to doorsteps throughout the week. One of them, Eli Schaefer, has been working as a carrier since he was 10. He said he has enjoyed his position ever since. “My older siblings delivered papers, so I followed in their footsteps,” said Schaefer. “It’s easy and flexible, too.” As a news carrier, Schaefer works approximately 45 minutes a week with a planned ERIK SUCHY | PRESS PUBLICATIONS list of addresses and streets. Eli Schaefer “You kind of plan your own route,” he said. “Once you pick one, it’s yours. The route that you live on is the one that you’re going to be doing. It’s going to be a lot of knocking on different people’s doors and delivering the papers.” Schaefer drops off newspapers year-round, relying on nothing but his own two feet, come rain or shine. “We’re supposed to walk because, as a carrier, you have to deliver it to their front step,” he said. However, dropping off papers isn’t the only joy Schaefer said he gets out of the job. He has even more fun meeting and connecting with the people he delivers to. “It’s a great way to get to know other people. I’ve actually gotten to do lawn work from meeting with them, because they need someone to mow their lawns and do other yard maintenance. That’s been pretty awesome,” he said. That number of connections, according to Schaefer, currently sits at around a dozen. Looking ahead, Schaefer says he already has one college in mind: Northwestern University, located near the heart of St. Paul. Though he hasn’t picked a degree, he says his siblings are a big reason for choosing the university. For those interested in becoming a carrier, Schaefer said it’s easy to do. “It’s not super time-consuming,” he said. “You kind of just do it.”
partnership,” Quad Community Press, May 25, 2021.) SBM has provided leadership services to the Centennial Fire District, explained Percy. Centennial has remained its own entity, with its own firefighters and equipment, he said, but SBM provides a fire chief and managerial services. In return, the Centennial Fire District helps train SBM firefighters on emergency medical technician services. SEE FIRE MERGER, PAGE 5
LEANN MICHAEL | CONTRIBUTED
Serene Scene: White pelicans drift across Peltier Lake Dam
Did you know? • National Newspaper Carrier Day will be Thursday, Sept. 4. • Press Publications has approximately 80 carriers ages 10 and up. • If you’re interested in becoming a carrier, call our circulation department at 651-407-1246 or visit our office in White Bear Lake.
American white pelicans recently spent the afternoon at Peltier Lake Dam in Lino Lakes. White pelicans can be spotted around the area until autumn. In October, the birds will migrate south and spend the winter months along the Gulf and Pacific coasts.
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was formed in 1985 through a joint powers agreement among the cities of Lino Lakes, Circle Pines and Centerville. In 2015, Lino Lakes left the district, while Circle Pines and Centerville maintained a partnership. In 2021, the Centennial Fire District decided to partner with SBM after a 2020 study prepared by Fitch & Associates explored operational possibilities. In the results of that study, the firm proposed forming partnerships with regional agencies, including fire departments from Lino Lakes, Lexington, Hugo and SBM. (See “Centennial Fire district explores
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