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Couple Q&A: Valentine’s Day edition
Dennis and Kathy Erno
Q: How long have you been married?
A: “57 years. We met in college. University of Wisconsin River Falls. We were exchanging classes. She was coming from a class, and I was going to a class. And we met on the stairs, and I wanted to meet her because I was attracted to her, so I asked her if she had a sister that went here, which was my opening line. So I asked her out. Our first date was at a Sadie Hawkins dance, which was supposed to be girls-ask-boys. That's how our relationship started.”
Q: What was your first impression of him?
A: “Handsome. A little forward, a little suspicious because I was a little younger.”
Q: What’s the secret to that many years of marriage?
A: “Just to know each other very well and don't give up. Discuss if you have a conflict and try to come up with a compromise or whatever.”
“We have shared values. We’re both, I’d say, moderate progressives, and we have the same moral and religious and social values.”
“And we love each other.”
Joshua Duckett and Kelly Jacobson
Q: How did you meet?
A: “It'll be three years [of dating] on Valentine's Day exactly. We met online and I asked her out. She declined.”
“At first because my friend also didn't have someone, so we wanted to have a girls Valentine's Day.”
“So I convinced her to still have that girl's Valentines and come out.”
“And it ended up being a really amazing night. We moved in with each other I want to say like a year later and we've been really, really happy.”
Q: What's the secret to happiness in a relationship?
A: “We have so much fun. I feel like we allow ourselves to be like the young and funny side and I think the really honest side.”
Q: What do you guys do for your Valentine's Day anniversary?
A: “Sometimes we go back to the first place that we met. Nico's Tacos. But we mix it up depending on weather.” “Nothing too crazy.”
Local community groups mobilize to support immigrant neighbors
BY MAYA BETTI NEWS INTERN
Continued federal immigration enforcement activity in Minnesota has left some students and families afraid to leave their homes, so community members have begun stepping up to support immigrant families.
Local volunteers are stepping in wherever help is needed — delivering groceries, helping families cover rent, working with food shelves and collecting school supplies for students
learning online.
At the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf in Mounds View, demand for services has risen sharply, particularly for home deliveries. Shane Johnson, the food shelf’s basic needs program manager, said many families are requesting deliveries because leaving home no longer feels safe.
“Deliveries are the kind of service that families are requesting most, as many families are isolating,” Johnson wrote in an email to the White Bear Press. “The community has stepped up
in a big way to help us with the increase in deliveries.”
Johnson said donations remain strong, but the need continues to grow.
“Food and financial donations are also continuing to come in, although with the increased need in our community they are more important than ever before if we want to continue maintaining the quality and reach of our programs,” Johnson wrote.
While food is essential, he added that diapers and hygiene items are among the most urgent needs and are often
overlooked by donors.
Some faith communities have also become places where people mobilize to help.
At First Presbyterian Church in White Bear Lake, involvement with immigrant and refugee families began years before the current federal enforcement surge. In 2019, the church opened its space to a Hispanic congregation serving immigrants from across Latin America.
PAGE 13
SEE COMMUNITY
Heather Gustafson
John Marty Kelly Moller
David Gottfried
Michael Kreun
Press Publications takes home 3 Awards
Press Publications has received three awards from the Minnesota Newspaper Association (MNA) as a part of the 2024-2025 Better Newspaper Contest (BNC).
Every year, dailies and non-dailies with circulations from 1,500 to over 10,000 enter the contest from all over the state. The contest is made up of several categories in the areas of advertising, stories, breaking news, investigative reporting, design, photography, sports and more.
The 2024-2025 contest had 4,100 entries. Winners were recently honored at the BNC Awards Gala during the annual MNA Convention & Trade Show at the Minneapolis Marriott Northwest in Brooklyn Park.
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm received first place in the Human Interest Story category
for her story, “Quadruple amputee part of Tillges family,” which ran in the White Bear Press. Granholm also received first place in the Social Issues Story category for her story, “Scam victim, detective share tips to protect others,” which ran in The Citizen. Judges commented, “The story grabs a reader’s interest with a compelling account from a scam victim whose bank account was drained. It also serves the public by outlining common types of scams and how to prevent them.”
The Citizen received third place in the General Excellence category. Judges said, “A lot of great graphic flourishes here on the pages. Great advertisement and news content variety, consistent quality and style guide of appropriate content.”
CONTRIBUTED
Managing Editor Shannon Granholm receives three awards from the 20242025 Better Newspaper Contest.
COMMUNITY BRIEFS
Enjoy a night at Wild Mountain through Community Education
Hit the slopes with your family and friends with Family Ski/Snowboard Nights at Wild Mountain, put on by Mounds View Community Education this month. Ski or snowboard from 3-9 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 15, or Sunday, Feb. 22.
The deadline to register is noon the Friday before the event. Register online at tinyurl.com/35ar78ax. Transportation to Wild Mountain is not provided. Spring, summer registration opens for Shoreview residents
Registration for spring activities and summer camps will open for Shoreview residents at 8 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24. Residents can sign up through the Shoreview Parks and Recreation website. Annual community members will be able to sign up for activities on Thursday, Feb. 26. General registration opens on Friday, Feb. 27.
For more information, visit www.shoreviewmn. gov/Parks-rec, call 651-490-4765 or email recreation@ shoreveiwmn.gov.
WHAT’S HAPPENING
ONGOING EVENTS
DROP IN MAH JONGG
When: 1 p.m. Thursdays
Where: Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N.
Details: Bring your tiles and your friends for drop-in play. All levels welcome. No registration required. Contact: shoreviewmn.gov or 651-490-4700
500 CARD CLUB
When: Noon, Mondays
Where: Shoreview Community Center, 4580 Victoria St. N.
Details: Cards and conversation. No partner required. Contact: shoreviewmn.gov or 651-490-4700
CURRENT EVENTS
SHOREVIEW COMMUNITY GARDEN CLUB
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 11
Where: North Oaks Community Room Suite 100, 100 Village Center Drive
Details: Gail Hudson, Northern Gardener Writer, and Horticulturist, will speak on the Great Gardens of Britian tour she embarked upon from Sissinghurst, Great Dixter, to the famous Kew in West London. Public welcome, social time at 6:30 p.m. Contact: shoreviewcommunitygardenclub.org
VALENTINGO
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12
Where: Mounds View Community Center, 5394 Edgewood Drive
Details: Grab your friends or your Valentine and play a few rounds of bingo. Contact: moundsviewmn.org or 763-717-4040
GALENTINE’S DAY
When: 5-8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 12
Where: Downtown White Bear Lake
Details: Ladies night out event with shopping and dining specials at participating downtown businesses. Contact: downtownwhitebearlake.com
SINGLE MINGLE
When: 6-9 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14
Where: In Vino Vertas, 1080 County Road E W., Shoreview
Details: Gathering is designed as an invitation to slow down, be present with one another and experience the space between us all with greater care and coherence. Guided small-group conversations and meaningful questions. Registration required. Must be 21+. Contact: ivvmn.com/events
FAMILY VALENTINE’S DAY DINNER
When: 4-8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 13 & Saturday, Feb. 14
Where: Churchill St. Restaurant, 4606 Churchill St., Shoreview
Details: Features three course prix fixe menu. There will be drink options, a craft and photo booth station. Reservations required.
Contact: www.churchillst.com/events-calendar or 612-466-2596
PIECE OUT! PUZZLE COMPETITION: VALENTINE
EDITION
When: 10 a.m.-noon Saturday, Feb. 14
Where: New Brighton Community Center, 400 10th St. NW
Details: Teams of up to four people will compete to finish a 500-piece puzzle in the shortest amount of time. The puzzle is provided. Contact: shoreviewmn.gov or 651-490-4700
LAKESHORE QUILTERS GUILD SATURDAY SEW-IN
When: 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 14
Where: Ramsey County Shoreview Library, 4560 Victoria St. N., Shoreview
Details: Lakeshore Quilters will be working on their own projects. Stop in to see what projects are being worked on.
Contact: lakeshorequiltersmn.org
SWEETHEART DANCE
When: 5:30-76:30 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20
Where: Mahtomedi Middle School gym
Details: Evening for kids and a special adult to enjoy dancing to music played by a DJ, face painting, crafts, photo booth, and pizza. Registration information online.
Contact: mahtomedi.ce.eleyo.com
EQC SPEAKERS SERIES: ROSEVILLE GREEN TO GO ORDINANCE
When: 7 p.m. Monday, Feb, 23
Where: City Council Chambers, Shoreview City Hall, 4600 Victoria St. N.
Details: Join a Roseville Sustainability Specialist to hear about Roseville’s “Green to Go” takeout container ordinance. Learn about how the ordinance start from a City Council member’s idea to an adopted ordinance, as well as an overview of implementation successes and challenges. Contact: shoreviewmn.gov or 651-490-4700
LAKESHORE QUILTERS GUILD MONTHLY MEETING
When: 6:30-9 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 24
Where: Shepherd of the Hills Church, rear entrance, Door G, 3920 Victoria St. N., Shoreview
Details: After a brief business meeting, Kristen Bender, a certified Quiltworx Instructor, will provide Judy Niemeyer’s techniques for achieving crisp points, smooth curves, and striking quilt blocks, when sewing Quiltworx patterns. Bender will provide other helpful tips and techniques when doing foundation paper piecing. Visitors welcome.
Contact: lakeshorequiltersmn.org
Indoor Farmers Market
When: 3-6 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 17
Where: Shoreview Community Center, Fireside Lounge, 4580 Victoria St. N.
Details: Features local produce and handcrafted artisan items.
Contact: shoreviewmn.gov
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IDesert hockey
n part to celebrate my mother-in-law’s 79th birthday, we found good pricing on airline tickets and lodging and landed in Palm Desert, California for a long weekend. My niece, Meredith, and her family live there, and they invited us to a Coachella Valley Firebirds hockey game. We had just arrived earlier that 80-degree day and it seemed counterintuitive to put on sweatshirts and jackets and watch a hockey game.
Publisher’s View Carter Johnson
We were aware that a former Bear plays for the Firebirds, Lleyton Roed, #29. When we arrived at Acrisure Arena it was impressive with an outdoor food court and games for kids. I wanted to at least be able to get a photo of Lleyton for the paper, as I'm sure many of our readers – especially the hockey fans - have been following his career, and have also followed his younger brothers coming up through the White Bear program. Being able to watch a hometown kid play made it a fun night for all of us. Midway through the game we learned where we could meet Lleyton after the game. My niece's kids, Patrick and Olivia, were thrilled at the idea. Patrick, an eighth-grader, plays for the youth team that is affiliated with the Firebirds and practices at the rink attached to the arena. When Lleyton came out of the locker room after the game we were able to get a quick photo, and he spent quite a bit of time talking to Patrick about hockey and even said he would try to get some of the players to visit one of the youth team practices. His advice to Patrick was to just keep having fun playing hockey. It was impressive that he took the time to engage like that with a young fan. He made Patrick's night and I was reminded that our our local families, communities and schools are turning out some exceptional athletes who are also great people on and off the rink,court or field.
We also had an interesting tour of several ranches in the Coachella Valley, led by Meredith's husband, Rob, who is in the agriculture business. The desert is a sandy former seabed that has less than 1% organic matter (as opposed to Iowa's top soil of up to 10%). However, it has a plentiful aquifer under it, as well a manmade canal from the Colorado River that took 100 years of planning and is considered an engineering marvel. Farmers use drip or micro irrigation methods that limit water waste. Fertilizer is carefully controlled and managed with the irrigation system to drip specifically on the roots of the plants.
The area, just a few miles outside of the populous cities of Palm Springs and Palm Desert, produces some of the world's highest per-acre crop yields. We drove by field after field of dates, lemons, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, broccoli and peppers. If possible when you are picking out produce, choose what is grown in the USA.
We also got to tour some of the fields that produce sod for use at golf courses and soccer and lacrosse fields. These growers are affiliated with the company that grows the fields for the Super Bowl.
Another highlight of our trip was visiting Joshua Tree National Park.
Although the real estate market in the Coachella Valley feels untouchable, I asked several hospitality workers about tourism and they all said they have been experiencing reduced traffic from the Canadians this year. I guess that explains why we felt we got a good deal.
Carter Johnson is publisher of Press Publications.
OPINION
Why God isn’t a Google search
EPastor’s Pondering Paul Stiver
very fall our family visits an apple orchard. In between demolishing apple cider donuts and taking Instagram-worthy photos, we do a trust fall. There are huge hay bales to play on, so I put my son Chase on them and have him fall into my arms. When he launches himself, his face is painted with joy, and I catch him gladly. In this trust fall, there is an element of mystery. He has to fall. But there is also clarity. He knows I’m going to catch him. And in between is faith and fun.
We live in a time when AI can offer quick answers to our deepest questions, and mystery can easily get pushed to the margins of our lives. If clarity is always at our fingertips, how are we to deal with the mysterious ways of God?
The God of the Bible is not a Google search or an AI chatbot. There is an element of mystery with God. Skepticism, the elimination of mystery, and always sitting in the judge’s seat, even over God, have become normal. We grow angry, demand answers
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or put God in a box.
Author Tim Keller highlights something compelling here:
“Only if your god can outrage and challenge you will you know that you worship the real God and not a figment of your imagination. If your god never disagrees with you, you might just be worshiping an idealized version of yourself.”
There are things about God that are beyond us. At times, we don’t understand why he does what he does. With God, we don’t always get instant answers, and we have to trust that he is in control. So, what are we to do?
In his famous Parable of the Sower, Jesus teaches that there is a secret to understanding God and his work. It does not come through simple resolution. Instead, it emerges in the tension between mystery and clarity, and it can only be grasped by hearing with faith.
How do we hear with faith?
Faith faces mystery with clarity. Faith embraces the mystery of God, the difficult, challenging, and confusing things, with the clarity of who God is. We look at what he has said about his character, his purposes, and his promises. Ultimately and most clearly, we see his mercy in the gospel. We look at the things we don’t understand about God
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through the lens of the things we do.
If you walk with Jesus for any period of time, there will be seasons of mystery like waiting, suffering, and calls to obedience that don’t make sense. Following Jesus is not easy. It is not meant to be. But God will be more near and more present than you’ve noticed before. The Bible says he is near to the brokenhearted. And when he carries us through those seasons, we emerge transformed and living with more clarity about who he is.
The cross of Christ is the most mysterious and miraculous thing that’s ever happened. As a result of God’s mercy, the Son of God dies for sinners like us, but he doesn’t stay dead. When Jesus rolls away the stone, hope springs eternal. That is the mystery and the clarity of the cross.
The answer of faith is to look to Jesus and see his scars, his suffering, and God’s mercy. When we do, like a child on a hay bale, we uncross our arms and fall with trust into the arms of a merciful Father. Only when we look at God through his mercy can we trust him in the mystery.
Paul Stiver is the lead pastor at Hope Community Church-North Lakes.
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Shoreview Press ignores news again
In my letter to the editor (“Shoreview Press ignores news”) published in your Jan. 13 issue, I opined that the Shoreview Press is loath to cover local political news. Your Jan. 27 issue proves my point.
In your Jan. 27 issue, your “Political Brief” on precinct caucuses listed the locations of caucuses for four Senate Districts and five House Districts — none of which included Shoreview. In the Shoreview Press, there was no mention of Shoreview’s Senate District 40 or House Districts 40A and 40B. For our hometown newspaper to exclude the locations for the Shoreview caucuses while including locations for Hugo and Stillwater was irresponsible. Your article rightly pointed out that this year’s caucuses “will have a major focus on the race for governor, as well as all 201 state legislative seats, the U.S. Senate and other constitutional offices.” I guess you thought that was important information for everyone except your Shoreview readers — at least not important enough to list our caucus locations. C’mon Shoreview Press, you can do better.
Randy Edinger Shoreview
CITY BRIEF
Mounds View holds tree sale
The Mounds View Public Works Department will hold a tree sale for Mounds View residents. Orders must be placed through the city registration site. Some tree types include beech, Minnesota strain redbud, Kentucky yellowwood, thornless hawthorn and more.
Residents are limited to five trees per address. For more information, or to place an order, visit secure.rec1.com/MN/mounds-view-mn/catalog. Trees will be available for pickup on Friday, May 1, and Saturday, May 2, at the Mounds View Public Works building, 2466 Bronson Drive.
BUSINESS BRIEF
Cafesjian Art Trust Museum temporarily closes
The Cafesjian Art Trust (CAT) Museum will be closed through Thursday, March 5, to rotate exhibitions. It will reopen March 6. The CAT Museum is located at 4600 Churchill St., Shoreview. For more information, visit cafesjianarttrust.org.
2 first-ever species spotted in 2025 Christmas Bird Count
BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
For some bird lovers, it just isn’t the winter holidays without the annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count. In 2026, volunteers in the Northeast Metro headed afield to count as many birds as possible, contributing to one of the longest-running community science projects in history.
The annual Audubon Christmas Bird Count (CBC), which takes place internationally in late December and early January, has collected data about bird populations for more than 100 years. In the St. Paul Northeast Suburban count area, which includes portions of White Bear Lake, Hugo, Withrow, Stillwater and Marine on St. Croix, volunteers have been conducting this annual survey since 1958.
“The Christmas counts are a good example of science and citizens cooperating, because they’ve been going on now for more than a century,” said count coordinator Jim Howitz. “It’s a reasonably accurate log of where birds are in the winter.”
Howitz collects the data collected by volunteers at the end of the count, then formally submits the information to the National Audubon Society. The records are public, and available to help map changes in bird populations and behaviors over time.
Changing trends
Count data over the last few decades has shown that many bird species are ranging farther and farther north as climate conditions change. Northern finches that used to be regular visitors have become less frequent over the years. Meanwhile, species from south of Minnesota, such as tufted titmice, have been ranging farther north. Feeder birds are still well represented and have been rising in number over the last 30 years.
Uncommon visitors
“It’s very good at detecting trends. Plus, it’s a nice recreational event. People do the same areas year after year,” Howitz said.
There are always a few surprises in store for count volunteers. This year, those included two species that have never been sighted in the Northeast Suburban bird count before.
The first was a sighting of two sandhill cranes, which are a familiar sight in the warmer months, but very uncommon this late in the winter.
The most unusual bird, however, was a single American pipit spotted near the St. Croix River. These robin-size birds are usually only seen in Minnesota during migration in the spring and fall. There are many possible reasons an unexpected bird might be spending the winter here. It may have been blown off course or be suffering from an illness; there could also be some other reason it cannot complete its migration. Or, it might have found a niche of available food and water resources, making migration unnecessary.
“The fact we added two new species, that’s tough to do,” Howitz said. “It only happens about once every three years.”
In addition to the count’s important scientific purpose, it serves as an annual occasion for community members to connect over common interests.
“It’s a nice combination of recreation, science and getting out in the winter, which Minnesotans are good at,” Howitz said. He said there has been an uptick in interest in bird-watching over the last few years, and it has become more accessible to newcomers with tools such as the app Merlin Bird ID.
“Merlin is magic. Someone who knows nothing about it — they can put that app on. I think it’s really revolutionized bird-watching, because you can take that anywhere. You can go to a place you’ve never been, and you’re not digging in your book, you get a little glimpse of the thing and Merlin knows it.”
The app is not 100 percent accurate and in some cases requires some additional research, but it provides a good starting point.
If you missed the count but would like to participate in bird-watching or citizen science, the Great Backyard Bird Count is coming up Feb. 13-16. Visit www.birdcount.org/ to learn more about this opportunity.
Cardinals are a reliable year-round visitor bound to brighten any backyard bird feeder.
PHOTOS BY JACKIE BUSSJAEGER | CONTRIBUTED A juvenile red-tailed hawk.
COPS&COURTS
Suspects of home invasion in custody, face formal charges
At approximately 1:15 a.m. Sunday, Jan. 25, deputies with the Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office (RCSO) responded to a report of a shooting in the 5000 block of Birch Trail in Shoreview.
According to RCSO, deputies located a 17-year-old male hiding behind a couch with a gunshot wound to his lower leg that was not life-threatening. He was transported to Regions Hospital.
According to the criminal complaint, the victim said the two suspects, later identified as 22-year-old Elijah Duley and 36-year-old Cordell Duley, appeared at the house the first time. One of the males asked if “this was the right address” before leaving in a silver SUV. The victim called his father, who advised him to call the police. The victim then heard banging and parts flying off the wall. He ran upstairs and into the pantry.
The complaint stated Elijah Duley and Cordell
The Ramsey County Sheriff’s Office reported the following selected incidents in Shoreview:
• Deputies arrested a 35-year-old man from North Branch Jan. 11 in the intersection of County Road J West and Scenic Place for fleeing a police officer in a motor vehicle. Deputies attempted to make a traffic stop on the 2007 Buick Lucerne after it passed the marked squad car at high speeds on I-35W. The driver refused to stop and eventually crashed in the ditch in the 14000 block of Finale Road. No serious injuries were reported.
• A 35-year-old man from Little Canada was arrested by deputies on Jan. 11 for disorderly conduct after he entered a gas station in the 3400 block of Rice Street from which he’d been previously trespassed and began harassing customers.
• A 37-year-old St. Paul man reported Jan. 11 that someone stole his backpack while he was swimming at a community center in the 4500 block of Victoria Street North.
• A 47-year-old woman in the 4200 block of Victoria Court reported Jan. 12 that someone opened a Mastercard account in her name without her knowledge. The incident is under investigation.
• Deputies issued trespassing notices and theft citations Jan. 12 to a 28-year-old man from St. Paul and a 29-year-old man from Lindstrom after they were caught by loss prevention employees in the 3800 block of Lexington Avenue North attempting to steal merchandise.
• Deputies responded to a business in the 3800 block of Lexington Avenue
Duley found the victim in the pantry, one of them pointed a gun at him and asked for the victim’s phone. Both men kicked him and said “Where the money at? Where the money at?” Two gunshots were fired before the two males took the victim out of the pantry and pinned him on the floor. They asked the victim where the safe was. The victim told them they did not have a safe. According to the complaint, the victim said the males kicked, punched and pistol-whipped him. The male in a white beanie punched his feet and the male with the gun held it to the victim’s face. The males shot again and ran. The victim played dead in case the men returned upstairs. He said he didn’t hear anything and then tried to find his iPad to call the police. The victim ran behind a chair and then police arrived.
According to the complaint, at the hospital, the victim’s father denied knowing any reason why the two males would show up at his house. The victim’s father denied money issues and denied that a large amount
North Jan. 13, where they identified a 22-year-old woman from Mankato, who was caught on video by loss prevention employees pretending to scan some merchandise at the self-checkout registers and leaving the store. She will be cited for theft.
• A 70-year-old man from Zimmerman reported Jan. 13 that someone stole his lunch box out of his work truck when it was parked in the 500 block of Cardigan Road and attempted to use his bank cards to make a fraudulent transaction. The incident is under investigation.
• Deputies responded Jan. 14 to a collision near the intersection of Lexington Avenue North and Tanglewood Drive between a vehicle and a light pole. Deputies spoke to a 66-year-old woman who said she accidentally slid into the pole and was experiencing chest and leg pain. Medics transported her to Mercy Hospital for evaluation and care.
• Deputies responded Jan. 14 to a report of a man slumped over the steering wheel of a Honda Civic near the intersection of Lexington Avenue North and County Road F. After they arrived, deputies found a 34-year-old man in the driver’s seat. He performed poorly on standard field sobriety tests and was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving without incident.
• Deputies issued a trespass notice Jan. 17 to a 58-year-old Lakeville woman after she entered the home of her 53-year-old ex-boyfriend in the 500 block of Lake Ridge Court without permission and refused to leave.
• Deputies issued trespass notices Jan. 17 to two 12-year-old girls after responding to a report of a fight at the
of currency was in the house.
Both suspects were later located in the 200 block of Dayton Avenue in St. Paul and taken into custody. Investigators conducted a photo lineup with the victim. He identified Elijah Duley as one suspect and Cordell Duley as the other suspect.
Based on the investigation and the victim’s statements, investigators concluded Elijah Duley was the male who banged on the residence door, punched the victim, took the victim’s phone and demanded it be unlocked. They also concluded that Cordell Duley pistol-whipped the victim and was the one who shot him. Both men have been charged with first-degree aggravated robbery and first-degree assault. Elijah Duley will appear in Ramsey County court on Thursday, Feb. 19. Cordell Duley will appear in court on Tuesday, Feb. 10.
community center in the 4500 block of Victoria Street North and learning that the two girls had harassed and physically assaulted another child at the center.
• Deputies issued a citation Jan. 18 for fifth-degree assault, disorderly conduct and domestic assault to a 47-yearold man after responding to a report of domestic abuse in the 4000 block of Chatsworth Street North. Deputies spoke to his 39-year-old wife, who told them he punched her and slapped her in the face.
• Deputies responded Jan. 19 to a report of theft in the 4000 block of Victoria Street North of a 12-year-old boy’s jacket. The incident is under investigation.
• Deputies responded Jan. 19 to a report of a burglary in the 5900 block of Saint Albans Street North at the home of a 62-year-old woman. The woman reported that she found dresser drawers pulled out and rummaged through. The incident is under investigation.
• Deputies issued a trespass notice Jan. 20 to a 15-year-old male after he was involved in a fight in the 4500 block of Victoria Street North.
• Deputies responded Jan. 21 to a report of a hit-and-run crash in the 3600 block of Victoria Street North involving a Dodge Ram 1500 pickup truck, driven by a 29-year-old man from St. Paul, and a semitruck, which drove away after the crash. No injuries were reported. The incident is under investigation.
• Deputies responded Jan. 21 to three reports of three vehicles being broke into in the 4000 block of Lexington Avenue North and rummaged through before items were stolen. The incident
is under investigation.
• A 30-year-old woman in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road reported Jan. 22 that someone broke into her vehicle and stole a laptop and backpack valued at nearly $1,000. An investigation is ongoing.
• A 27-year-old from St. Louis Park reported Jan. 22 that someone broke into her vehicle in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road as well and stole her possession. The incident is under investigation.
• On Jan. 22 a 45-year-old woman in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road reported that someone stole her white 2018 Honda HR-V. An investigation is ongoing.
• A third report of theft was reported Jan. 22 in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road by a 28-year-old man, who said someone stole his electric bicycle valued at more than $1,000. The incident is under investigation.
• Deputies responded Jan. 24 to a report of 36-year-old man from Minneapolis in the 4800 block of Churchill Street who was unconscious and not breathing. Deputies took over CPR until medics arrived and transported him to a hospital for continued treatment.
• Deputies responded Jan. 24 to a bomb threat at a hotel in the 1000 block of Gramsie Road, which was sent by email to hotel employees. It was later determined the same threat was sent to multiple hotels. No bombs were located. An investigation is ongoing.
• Deputies cited a 55-year-old Roseville woman Jan. 24 after loss prevention employees at a business in the 3800 block of Lexington Avenue North caught her attempting to leave the store with unpaid merchandise.
Shoreview Community Foundation Announces New Rolling Granting Process for 2026
The Shoreview Community Foundation is pleased to announce significant updates to its granting process for 2026. In an effort to provide greater flexibility and meet the evolving needs of local organizations, the Foundation will begin accepting and funding grant requests on a rolling basis throughout the year. This change marks a shift from a traditional annual cycle to a more responsive, year‑round model. By allowing organizations to apply when their needs arise, the Foundation aims to ensure funding is available at the moments it can have the greatest impact. Our goal is
to better support the timing and realities of the organizations we serve. A rolling process allows for more agility, responsiveness, and alignment with real time community needs.
In support of this transition, the Foundation’s website will be updated shortly with additional information, including our new Grant Application and detailed guidance for applicants. The Shoreview Community Foundation looks forward to continuing its mission of strengthening and enriching the community by supporting local programs, initiatives, and organizations throughout the year.
Madeline Dolby
VALENTINE’S DAY Q&A: Couples
Reyna and Arturo Becerra
Q: How did you meet?
A: “We met in Mexico. We spent eight years dating. We got married in 1989. She was working with my brother when I met her for the first time. It was a retail store, and I would
Diane and John Noll
Q: How did you meet?
A: “We both attended Hamlin University, and I took Physics for Poets as my hardest class, and he took it as his easy class. He offered to be up front in the class to assist the teacher on a project that the teacher was presenting, and I thought he was the best-looking guy I had ever seen, and I was instantly smit ten, and I counted what seat he was in. So the next day I got there super early, and I sat in the chair next to his chair, and when he sat down, he was laughing. He knew what I was doing. So that was how we met. Then I asked him out first. It was the first time I’d ever done that because my girlfriend was getting married and I didn't have a date. So he went
come in on vacation for school because it was Christmas time.”
Q: What was your first impression of her?
“Oh, she was beautiful. Yeah, she was nice and
to that. And my mother said, ‘Well, what's he like?’ And I said, I don't know. And she said, ‘Is he tall?’ And I said, ‘I don’t know, we're always sitting!’ He played basketball for Hamlin. So when he came to the door, my mother said, ‘You couldn't tell he was that tall?’ But anyway, we've been married since 1981, and we dated seven years before that.”
Q: Do you do anything special for Valentine's day?
A: “Usually on our anniversary we'll be sitting at McDonald's and go ‘this is our anniversary, we forgot again!’ So no, we usually don't do anything special, but every day is special.”
Steve and Cathy Abbly
Q: When did you meet?
A: “We met in Robbinsdale High School in 1976. I can't remember exactly what year we moved in together, and then we’ve lived together until 2014, and then we got married.”
“So we were engaged for over 38 years.”
“March 1, that's our anniversa ry date. We just had a small little thing at the Anoka County courthouse, and his mom and dad came, and that was that.”
Whitney and Jesse Nickols
Q: When did you meet?
A: “We met in 2023. We got married in 2024.”
Q: How did you meet?
Q: What was your first impression of each other?
A: “I was throwing snowballs at her and her girlfriends.”
“And I thought he was cute.”
Q: What’s the secret to a happy relationship?
“We’re kind of like friends, too. We have the same interest. It has its moments, but it always will, you know.”
A: “We met through his brother, and I was friends with his sister-in-law in Pittsburgh. Then I moved to Colorado, and they invited me out here to Minnesota for the Minnesota State Fair. We thought it was a setup, but everybody claims it wasn't. We spent the few days at the fair over Labor Day weekend, and we talked a lot. And then his sister-in-law claimed that I was following him around like a puppy, and I said, ‘No.’ So I stopped hanging out with him, and then he
proceeded to follow me through the Christmas tree section of the Agriculture Building at the fair. So then, after that weekend, he didn't say anything to me, like we should talk, we should do whatever. He didn't even touch me. And then, before I left, he gave me a hug and kind of rubbed my back, and he gave me a handshake…”
“With my phone number.”
“With his phone number. Right before I left for the airport.”
“Didn’t want the parents noising around.”
“Then, a week later, I flew back out, and the rest is history.”
Compiled by Tyler Quattrin
• The winners of the Human Rights Commission poster contest were announced. Every year, the commission sponsors a poster contest for fourth graders in the Mounds View Area School District called “One Community of Many Colors” in honor of Martin Luther King
Jr. Day. The third-place winner was Yeshwanth Logesh from Island Lake Elementary. Receiving second place was Nayana Alapati from Island Lake Elementary. First place went to Dawson Cooper from St. Odilia School. The contest is open to all local elementary schools that serve Shoreview residents.
Teachers are encouraged to teach a segment on human rights history in conjunction with the poster contest. This year, five schools participated in the contest: Turtle Lake Elementary, Emmet D. Williams Elementary School, Island Lake Elementary, St. Odilia School and Oak Hills Montessori Community School. In total, 268 posters were submitted.
• Revisions will be made to the membership requirements for student members of the Environmental Quality
Committee (EQC) and Bikeways and Trails Committee following council approval. Currently, student members are required to attend two regular meetings prior to being appointed by the City Council. Regular members are not required to attend meetings prior to appointment. Both committees support removal of the requirement for student members to at-
tend two meetings prior to appointment. This would make the rules for appointment consistent for student members and regular members and reduce confusion. The change will also make the rules consistent with other committees.
• Following council action, a property owner will have their rental licenses revoked after failing to renew it. The property owner was sent
annual notices to renew their rental license for the property located at 3431 Kent Street, Unit 803, beginning in late November, but the property owner failed to renew the licenses for 2026 before the specified deadline for compliance.
• Following council action, a nuisance abatement will be issued to the property located in the 5500 block of Donegal Drive. An initial complaint about a deteriorated deck was received in June 2025. According to city staff, an initial notice was sent; however, there was no response from the property owner. Two inspections were completed in October 2025 and November 2025. According to staff, the deck remained noncompliant and had deteriorated further. Due to the unsafe nature of the deck, staff determined that immediate abate -
ment was warranted.
• David Hemming will serve on the Public Safety Committee through Jan. 31, 2029, after council approved his appointment. The committee consists of seven to nine members and advises the council on matters pertaining to the public safety and welfare in the city.
• Craig John will serve as chair of the Planning Commission and Nicole Westadt will serve as vice chair following council’s approval of the appointments. John has served on the commission since 2022, was vice chair in 2024 and chair in 2025. Westadt has been on the commission since 2022.
The next Shoreview City Council meeting will take place at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in council chambers.
Madeline Dolby
CONTRIBUTED
The top 20 poster contest winners were recognized at the council meeting by Mayor Sue Denkinger, the Shoreview City Council and Human Rights commission.
Mounds View sophomore serves as state officer
Shaurya Jaswal, a sophomore at Mounds View High School, currently serves as a Minnesota SkillsUSA state officer. Jaswal represents students across the state. SkillsUSA is a national nonprofit organization that empowers students to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. It was started in 1965 as VICA and has over 450,000 members nationwide.
Mounds View High School students receive top marks
Mounds View High School students Tinting Wang, a junior, and Ella Wan, a sophomore, received the top two prizes at the Richard Record Rising Stars Concerto Competition in La Crosse, Wisconsin. Wang and Wan will perform piano concertos by Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff with the La Crosse Symphony
COUNTY BRIEF
Mounds View High School students Tinting Wang, a junior, and Ella Wan, a sophomore, at the La Crosse Richard Record Rising Star Concerto Competition.
Orchestra at the Viterbo Fine Arts Center on Saturday, March 14.
More items accepted at Ramsey County Environmental Center
The Ramsey County Environmental Center is now collecting kitchen countertop appliances such as microwaves, blenders, coffeemakers and more. The center has also expanded its small electric items collection.
The Ramsey County Environmental Center is located at 1700 Kent St., Roseville. For more information or to see a full list of accepted items, visit www. ramseycountymn.gov/residents/recycling-waste/ environmental-center.
SCHOOL BRIEF
District receives 2024-25 audit report
In January, a representative from the auditing firm LB Carlson reviewed the Mounds View Public Schools’ 2024-25 audited financial statements and supplemental reports. During the presentation to the School Board, the representative noted that the audit was clean and there were no findings to report. The audit report is available at mvpschools.org/finance.
At the request of the district, the auditing firm also completed a review of district finances for the period of time coinciding with the service of Jonathan
Weinhagen, who resigned in October 2025.
The firm conducted a review of district vendors and the disbursement of funds related to former board member Weinhagen. In what’s known as an agreed-upon procedures engagement, the firm:
• Conducted interviews with School Board members and district staff.
• Identified a list of vendors that were approved by district management.
• Completed vendor searches on the district’s financial records from the time of July 1, 2014 through October 24, 2025, to review any payments that were
DNR proposes harvest limits for native rough fish
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources is asking the public to weigh in on proposed rules related to daily and possession limits on native rough fish. Under the new proposed rules, these fishes — including bowfin, buffalo, carpsucker, freshwater drum, goldeye, mooneye, quillback, redhorse and suckers — would also get a variety of other protections.
Some examples of these protections include noting that structural practices, such as dams, hinder migration of these fish is no longer appropriate or desired, excluding bowfin from commercial harvest and clarifying that native rough fish and also common carp taken by angling or dip netting can be returned to the water.
Under current rules, there are no limits for bowfin, buffalo, carpsucker, quillback, mooneye, goldeye and freshwater drum for all methods of take. The daily and possession limit for sucker and redhorse
identified from those vendors that were on the list that was approved by district management.
“The payments that were identified and reviewed as part of those procedures were all supported with proper source documentation and had the proper approvals from management,” said Jackie Huegel, principal at LB Carlson. “There were no reportable deficiencies that changed our reporting with the audit process relating to that agreed-upon procedures engagement.”
Mounds View Public Schools
is unlimited for angling and 50 each for bowfishing, spearing, harpooning and dip netting.
The proposed limits are:
• Bowfin: Six
• Bigmouth and smallmouth buffalo in aggregate: Five in northern zone, 30 in southern zone
• Suckers and redhorse in aggregate: 30
• Carpsuckers and quillback in aggregate: 30
• Freshwater drum: 30
• Mooneye and goldeye in aggregate: 30
There would also be a minimum size for some species limits to allow for minnow harvest. If approved, the rules would go into effect March 1, 2027. The DNR is taking comments on the proposed rules until 4:30 p.m. Thursday, March 12. Submit your comments by emailing fisheries.rulemaking. comments.dnr@state.mn.us or by calling 651-2595235. If you email your comments, include “native rough fish” in the subject line or body of the email. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources
Shaurya Jaswal
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
4-game win streak
Mounds View boys basketball is 13-7 after going 4-0 the last two weeks. The Mustangs beat New Richmond (WI) 79-53 at Target Center as Andrew Aitkin sank 25 points, Reid Defeyter 16 and Rylan Happel 15. They cruised 96-48 at Hermantown. Aitkin shot 9-for-11 for 21 points and Happel 8-for-10 for 29 points. The Mustangs had 24 assists, 17 steals and just six turnovers. Against Spring Lake Park (11-7), the Mustangs prevailed 66-60, enjoying good balance as Happel netted 18 points, Aitkin 17, Defeyter 16, Qani Mohamed eight and Connor Crosby seven. Nolan Myren tallied 26 points for the Panthers. The Mustangs stymied Stillwater 52-41 with Happel sinking 17 points, Defeyter 10 and Aitkin nine.
GIRLS NORDIC
Mounds View’s girls Nordic has one state qualifier, Claire Secord, while the team placed third in both Section 4 and the Suburban East Conference the past two Thursdays. Secord, a sophomore, placed eighth in the section at Battle Creek, grabbing the last individual slot. Cora Gentry placed 16th, Leah Marchek 17th, Anika Robinson 18th and Betsy Nelson 19th. In the tandem sprint, Emma Stupar/Noelle Boyd reached finals and placed fifth. In the conference meet, Secord placed seventh, Gentry 12th and Marchek 15th to make all-conference along with Stupar/Boyd in third place. Stillwater won team titles in each.
Mustang Nordic boys gain state
The Mounds View boys Nordic team qualified for state with a second-place team finish in Section 4 at Battle Creek Park Reserve on Thursday. They’ll compete Wednesday and Thursday at Giants Ridge in Biwabik.
Jackson Ashbach, senior, led with an eighthplace finish, followed by junior Hunter Miller in 11th, junior Olen Hammerbeck 12th, senior Ted Chresand 14th and junior Jack Kalmes 15th. In tandem sprints, Ryan Hill-Malvick/Riley Fields reached finals and placed fifth.
In the Suburban East Conference, a week earlier, the Mustangs placed second and had ten all-conference skiiers — Ashbach in eighth, Miller ninth, Chresand 11th, Hammerbeck 13th,
The state-bound Mounds View boys Nordic team. The team placed second overall at sections.
Fields 15th and Kalmes 16th, along with relay teams Hill-Maverick/ Max Hansen, third place,
and Mitch Wentink/Finley Bosler, fourth. Stillwater won both conference and section
titles with George Nelson first individual in both.
Mustangs matmen 2nd in SEC, lose to Stillwater
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Stillwater captured the Suburban East Conference (SEC) championship with a 41-21 win over Mounds View in the regular season finale on Thursday evening. Stillwater finished 9-0 in the SEC and the Mustangs 8-1. Stillwater (23-2) and Mounds
SWIMMING & DIVING
Mounds View defeated Park 97-86 on Thursday in the regular season finale, getting firsts by Ben Lawrence in the medley (2:13.31) and 100 free (51.07), Sammy Snider in the 500 free (5:30.62) and backstroke (1:03.04), Danny Bai in the 50 free (21.35) and Holden Then in the butterfly (57.59). The Mustangs won all the relays with Bai, Unai Solivera Tato, Lawrence, Keon Sjostrom, Sithsovann Pin-Mene, Then and Charlie Collins contributing. Next is Section 4AA in Stillwater, Feb. 19-21.
View (17-2) will likely clash again in the Section 4AAA tournament on Friday at Stillwater. The Mustangs’ only previous loss was to Class 2A’s top ranked Simley 44-22. Winning for the Mustangs were Owen LaRose (pin), Ethen Benson (16-2), William Schneider (4-2), Caden Greniear (13-5) and Robert Essie (8-0). Stillwater’s eight wins included four pins and two technical falls.
Mound’s View’s top records are Grenier 35-3, LaRose 18-3, Ethan Benson 28-10, Jackson Hatton 31-11, Schneider 31-6, Silas Helmer 22-10, Braeden Maxey 27-5, Essie 22-8 and Christian Edwards 19-9. In the Armstrong Duals on Jan. 31, the Mustangs beat Rogers 50-12, Goodhue 48-21 and Armstrong 72-0.
GIRLS BASKETBALL
Mounds View has won four of its last five teams, improving to 13-9 overall and 7-7 in the SEC. The Mustangs beat Irondale 69-34 with Jaycie Helmer hitting 18 points, Taylor Whitehill 17, Avery Lanore 16 and Maddie Schneider 11; beat White Bear Lake 62-57 with Whitehill scoring 21 and Helmer 17; lost to East Ridge 85-62; beat Spring Lake Park 59-44 with Whitehill pouring in 30 points; and beat Stillwater 64-39 as Maddie Schneider netted 25 points and Helmer 18.
GIRLS HOCKEY
Mounds View/Irondale’s season ended with a 3-0 loss to Roseville/Mahtomedi on Saturday in the section opener. They were 1-5-1 in the last six games with four shutout losses and finished 13-9-3 overall and 7-7-2 in the Suburban East Conference. They won the conference finale 3-0 over White Bear Lake on Jan. 30 with Bayleigh King, Mia Simones and Sarah Johnson scoring and Kayla Kearin making 28 saves.
Bruce Strand
Mounds View Basketball February 10, 2026
Taylor Whitehill, Mounds View basketball junior guard, is averaging 14 points per game, and powered a 59-44 win over Spring Lake Park last week with a 30-point effort including 12-for-17 shooting with three 3-pointers. She had 21 points in a 62-57 win over White Bear Lake. Coach Dave Bratland praised Whitehill as a cool-headed athlete who can score from all three levels. “Taylor always squares up to shoot three-pointers, she finishes really well at the rim, and she can hit the mid-range shots, too,” he said. “She always takes good shots.”
Bruce Strand
BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED
Ryan Happel takes aim for a three-pointer against Spring Lake Park.
Bruce Strand
Ma rine Village School seekin g bus driver For more info co ntact Transportation@marinevillageschool.org or ch eck out marinevillagesh ool.org/careers/
MD A HIRING FOREST PEST (SPONGY MOTH ) SURVEYOR S The Minnesota Department of Agriculture is hiring temp intermitte nt Surveyors (Ag Te chnicians) for the 2026 Spongy Moth Trapping Survey season. $20.51/hr + mileage reimbursement View jo b post (Job I.D. 91599 ) & apply online thr ough March 2nd: https://mn gov/mmb/c areers. MDA is an equal opportunity employer & pr ovider Question s: 651/201-6692 or natasha.northrop@state.mn.us
MAINTENANCE
MECHANIC
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$32.45/hr - $42.00/hr
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CITY
OF MAHTOMEDI
SEASONAL FULL TIME EMPLOYMENT
MAINTENANCE WORKER
The City of Mahtomedi has openings for up to (4) full time Seasonal Maintenance Worker positions. All positions are for 67 days. Duties include assisting the Public Works Department with street, water, sewer, and park maintenance. Must have a High School diploma or GED, the ability to lift/move 25-100 Lbs., be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver’s license. The pay range is from $18.00/hr. to $20.00/ hr. depending on qualifications. Applications will be taken until positions are filled. Applications can be obtained at City Hall, 600 Stillwater Road, Mahtomedi, MN 55115 or at its website at www. mahtomedimn.gov. Mahtomedi is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Marine Village School is seeking a bus driver to join our team!
Are you looking for a rewarding role with great, competitive pay?
Become part of our small but mighty MVS community — where you’re not just driving a bus, you’re helping move something bigger!
We’re seeking a reliable and caring driver to transport our responsible, respectful students safely to and from school each day. CDL required, bus certification preferred.
Seasonal Maintenance Worker
White Bear Township is accepting applications for Seasonal Maintenance Worker positions to assist in routine maintenance work including, but not limited to, the following: general maintenance of parks, streets, water, storm water, sanitary sewer, etc. Up to 40 hours per week, Monday – Friday, 7 AM to 3:30 PM (subject to change between Memorial Day – Labor Day).
Salary range from $18 to $21/ hour, depending on qualifications. A valid driver’s license with a good driving record is essential. Applicants must be at least 18 years old and be able to pass pre-employment drug screening.
MAHTOMEDI VOLUNTEER FOR CITY COMMISSIONS
The City of Mahtomedi is accepting applications from residents interested in serving on advisory commissions. Openings for three-year appointments exist on the Planning Commission, Parks Commission, Environmental and Finance Commission. The Commissions serve as advisory bodies making recommendations within their areas of responsibility to the City Council.
If you are interested in serving the community in any of these capacities, please contact City Hall at 651-426-3344 for an application form. Applications are also available on the City’s website at www.mahtomedimn.gov. Applications will be taken through March 2, 2026.
JERENE ROGERS CITY CLERK
For more information please contact us : Transportation@marinevillageschool.org or check out marinevillageschool.org/careers/ Personal Touch Pet Grooming “When
Applications are available Monday – Friday, 8 AM to 4:30 PM, at Township Administrative Office, 1281 Hammond Road, White Bear Township, MN 55110 or online at www.whitebeartownship. org. Application deadline: Open until positions are filled.
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is a family owned business. Lee Wolf has lived in the local area his entire life and has been in the drywall business since 1979. Lee specializes in water damage and commercial tenant modifications. His service includes new construction, basements, remodels & drywall/ plaster repairs. Wolf Brothers Drywall LLC is owner operated, fast dependable, customer orientated and provides quality service.
You will find this company weekly under “Plaster/Drywall” in the Call-A-Specialist section of the paper.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT: Neighbors, faith groups address rising needs
FROM PAGE 1
More recently, the church partnered with Arrive Ministries, a Minnesota-based refugee resettlement agency, forming “good neighbor” teams to support refugee families adjusting to life in the state. That work took on new urgency after ICE launched “Operation Surge” in Minnesota, resulting in the detention of more than 100 people with legal refugee status, according to Pastor Neil Craigan.
In an email to the White Bear Press, Craigan described one case in which the son of a refugee family was detained by ICE while driving home from work, despite having legal documentation.
“After 12 days in detention, he was released without any interview or explanation,” Craigan wrote. “But he was released in Houston and had to find his own way home.”
Since the event and the increase in ICE activity, fear has rippled through the community. Several weeks ago, the Hispanic church temporarily canceled services as families became afraid to gather. In response, members of First Presbyterian organized grocery deliveries instead.
“It was eight families at first, then 17, then 20,” Craigan wrote.
According to Craigan, the response from the wider community has been overwhelming: volunteers
• Andre Koen, of Mounds View, will serve the remainder of former Board Member Jonathan Weinhagen’s term, which expires Jan. 3, 2028. Koen is currently the director of learning and development for the city of Minneapolis, where he leads training initiatives for city employees. Koen has also served on the PTA of Pinewood Elementary School and the District’s Curriculum Advisory Committee. He will be sworn in as a board member at the regularly scheduled School Board meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10.
• There were 110 gifts to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf received this period for a total of approximately $338,797.
• Jackie Huegel, from LB Carlson, and Paula Steele, the district’s finance director, presented the 2024-2025 audit report to the board. The district has received an unmodified, or clean, opinion on its audit. According to Huegel, along with the audit report, LB Carlson was asked by the district to conduct an agreed-upon procedures engagement related to former Board Member Weinhagen (see more information in this week’s issue).
• Julie Coffey, executive director of human resources, presented the board with an employee contract for nonaffiliated employees. Coffey explained that this group consists of individuals in positions that are
have offered to shop, pack and deliver food, and donors have contributed more than $20,000 to cover legal fees and lost wages for affected families.
For Craigan, the motivation is rooted in faith.
“Jesus tells us that we are to love our neighbor, and we don’t get to choose who that neighbor is. While politicians argue about immigration policy and who is and who is not going to be made welcome, the church has a different calling, to love all people,” he wrote.
Local businesses have also become places for people to support.
In Hugo, Celeste Knipping, owner of the Argyle Moose, has opened her shop as a donation drop-off site after being asked by a friend how people could help.
Within days, donations poured in. Knipping said she collected more than 192 pounds of supplies in just two days, all of which were delivered to the White Bear Area Food Shelf. By the following week, the shelves at her store were full again with donations.
“I had another customer that was saying, ‘I’m not somebody who enjoys protesting, but I want to do something, and this is something that I can do,’” Knipping said. “I feel like when people feel helpless and you give them an avenue, then it’s a natural thing to take care of each other.”
not represented under a collective bargaining agreement with the school district. The group includes nonteaching professionals that hold titles such as technician, specialist, coordinator, manager, supervisor, assistant director, director and executive director. Coffey said the agreement includes a 2.5% increase in salary effective July 1, 2025, and a 2.75% increase effective July 1, 2026. Effective July 1, 2026, the district contribution toward the 403b program was increased by $1,000. Individuals in this group that hold the title of director will receive a business expense of $200 per month effective Jan. 1, 2026, and $400 per month effective July 1, 2026. According to Coffey, executive directors will receive an increase in the business expense of $200 per month and will have longevity amounts increased by $1,000 in each year of the contract. Both directors and executive directors will receive an increase to the amount of paid time off effective July 1, 2026.
• Executive Director of Student Support and Engagement Jen Lodin, Assistant Director of Community Partnerships Mindy Handberg, Mounds View High School Career and College Coordinator Madison Hendrickson and Irondale High School Career and College Coordinator Fritz Rock provided the board with an update regarding the district operational goal (DOP)
CITY OF SHOREVIEW
NOTICE OF SNAIL LAKE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT 2026 ANNUAL MEETING
The Snail Lake Improvement District (SLID) annual meeting will take place Tuesday, March 3, 2026 at 7 pm at the Shoreview City Hall Council Chambers, 4600 Victoria Street N., Shoreview, MN.
The agenda includes:
• Election of two SLID board members
- Individuals nominated must own property within the City of Shoreview and one must own property within the SLID.
- Only property owners within the SLID are eligible to vote.
- Institutional or corporate property owners must designate an authorized representative.
- Property owners unable to attend may complete a proxy form authorizing another property owner to cast their ballot
• Review of the 2025 operation & maintenance costs
• Operation & maintenance budget for 2026
• Invasive plant treatment
• Other business as it pertains to the district’s functions Published one time in the Shoreview Press on February 10, 2026.
CITY OF SHOREVIEW NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Shoreview Planning Commission will hold a Public Hearing at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, February 24, 2026 in the City Council Chambers at Shoreview City Hall, 4600 Victoria Street North, Shoreview, Minnesota to consider a Planned Unit Development –Development Stage application, Preliminary Plat, and Comprehensive Plan Amendment application.
APPLICANT: Christian Brothers Automotive
LOCATION: 1090 Gramsie Road
She stressed that the effort is not political. For her, it’s about humanity.
“We just want to make sure that the people in the community have the things that they need right now for their everyday lives,” Knipping said.
A similar effort unfolded in White Bear Lake, where Cobblestone Cafe became a collection site for school supplies for children who have recently shifted to online learning due to fear and anxiety surrounding ICE activity.
Owner Alicia Buroker said the idea grew out of conversations with a friend who works closely with teachers across multiple districts, including White Bear Lake, Columbia Heights, Minneapolis and St. Paul.
The response was immediate and overwhelming. During a one-day drive on Saturday, Jan. 31, Buroker estimates the cafe collected nearly $5,000 worth of supplies, including a single donation valued at $700.
“My Jeep was overflowing when I delivered everything,” Buroker said. “It was a really emotional day. Everybody here was just almost in tears as they just kept coming in — both regular customers and people I’ve never seen — that just came in and thanking us for doing it.”
Like Knipping, Buroker said the decision was driven by a sense of responsibility rather than politics.
regarding career pathways. The goal focuses on expanding career pathway opportunities for high school students. Handberg said an audit was completed by Education First consulting firm to assess the current career pathways program. The audit included interviews with staff; examinations of equipment, classrooms and labs; as well as focus groups with students. The firm will use the audit to create an implementation plan. Currently, the district is working with SchoolLinks, a comprehensive platform for students to plan for their post-secondary futures by exploring colleges, careers and scholarships. Over the course of the school year, the district coordinates over 50 college visits, a career connect day and a manufacturing month, and offers SchoolLinks and FAFSA help for students at the Advanced Learning Center.
• The school board entered into a closed session to conduct the superintendent’s evaluation.
The next Mounds View Public Schools School Board meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 10, at the District Center, 4570 Victoria St. N., Shoreview. Public comments to the board will be at 6:30 p.m. before the meeting.
Madeline Dolby
“I’ve always tried to separate my politics from my business,” she said. “But at some point, it feels like it’s either do something or do nothing, and doing nothing is also taking a side.”
Congratulations to Zach! Carrier for Press Publications for about a year. Thank you for all your hard work! January 2026
PROPOSAL: To develop a 6,557 square foot automotive service building. The applicant proposes a preliminary plat requesting to subdivide a portion of the existing property to serve the proposed auto service building. The application proposes to amend comprehensive plan future land use guidance for the property from Office to a Commercial designation. In addition, amendment of the underlying Planned Unit Development zoning is proposed to allow the proposed automotive service land use.
Persons who want to submit written comments on this proposal can email Izaak Peterson, Senior Planner, at ipeterson@shoreviewmn.gov. All written comments received before February 19th will be included in the staff report. Those who wish to give oral testimony are invited to attend the meeting on February 24th at 7:00pm.
Residents are encouraged to call the Shoreview Community Development Department at 651-490-4681 after Thursday, February 18th to find out where this item will be located on the meeting agenda.
BY ORDER OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Brad Martens, City Manager
Published one time in the Shoreview Press on February 10, 2026.
MOUNDS VIEW PUBLIC SCHOOLS
MOUNDS VIEW SCHOOL BOARD MEETING SUMMARY, JANUARY 13, 2025
Meetings take place at the District Center in Shoreview (4570 Victoria Street N). Complete minutes available upon request at the District Center.
Board members take oath of office
New Board members Tascha Just and Mark Sacay began their terms and took the oath of office. Incumbent board member Shauna Bock also began a new term. The three members will serve terms expiring January 7, 2030.
School Board affirms organizational policies and elects officers
The Board affirmed the following policies:
• Policy BG-0400: School Board
School Board Members’ Code of Conduct
• Policy BG-0107: Rules Governing the Transaction of Business, which will govern the proceedings of the School Board and that Robert’s Rules of Order, newly revised, will remain the parliamentary procedural guide.
The Board also elected the following officers:
• Chair - Heidi Danielson
• Vice Chair - Shauna Bock
• Clerk - Alissa Daire Nelson
• Treasurer - Jim DeMay 2026-27 Budget Assumptions
Paula Steele, director of finance, presented preliminary budget assumptions for 2026-27 budget preparation. The budget assumptions will continued to be developed with input from the school board as enrollment and other factors continue to be monitored. The final version of the assumptions will be brought to the school board for approval at the January 27 Board meeting. Thank you
The Board accepted with appreciation gifts from Joe and Becky Krollin honor of Eli Jung, Wells Fargo Employer Match from recent fundraiser, Fredrikson & Byron, Brooker-Edmond VFW Post 724 - c/o Terry Hoye, Mighty Cause, Don and Maudella Albright, Leanne Morris, Linda and Peter Widstrand, Brian Pearce - CyberGrants, The Selassie Family - YourCause, American Endowment Foundation - Drs. George and Shannon Canas, St. Paul & MN Foundation - Wayne Damerow, Valentine Hills PTO, Rod and Susan Palmer, Larry and Cheryl Bornhorst, Sherry Oleson in memory of Michael Krebsbach, Andrew Mills, Colin and Shannon Mildenberger, Carole and Ralph DeLong, Ryan Companies Benevity – Marie Barnum and YourCause Medtronic - Justin Ellis.
MOUNDS VIEW SCHOOL BOARD SNIPPETS
CALENDAR BRIEF
Next speaker series focuses on Roseville ordinance
The next installment of the Environmental Quality Committee Speaker Series will be at 7 p.m. Monday, Feb. 23, in council chambers at Shoreview City Hall, 4600 Victoria St. N.
Attendees will hear from a Roseville sustainability specialist about Roseville’s “Green to Go” takeout container ordinance, where food establishments are required to use containers that are reusable, compostable or recyclable. Those in attendance will also learn about how “Green to Go” started from a council member’s idea and progressed to an adopted ordinance. There will als be an overview of implementation success and challenges. For more information about the speaker series, go to www.shoreviewmn. gov/Government/Committees-commissions.
2026 LEGISLATIVE PREVIEW: Leaders share priorities for upcoming session
FROM PAGE 1
Rep. Kelly Moller District 40A 651-296-0141 Rep.Kelly.Moller@house. mn.gov
As the 2026 session approaches, it is overshadowed by a number of tragedies that Minnesota has had to endure since the end of the 2025 session. However, the important work of state governance must go on, and we must pass laws that adequately respond to these recent tragedies.
While Democrats have built a foundation in recent
Rep. David Gottfried District 40B
651-296-7153
Rep.david.gottfried@house. mn.gov
As the 2026 legislative session gets underway on Feb. 17, the focus of my work will be on responding to the ongoing crises resulting from the federal occupation, addressing the economic struggles faced by Minnesotans and laying the groundwork for continued economic prosperity and addressing imminent threats to workforce stability caused by artificial intelligence. In all areas I will attempt to work across
Sen. John Marty District 40 651-296-5645 sen.john.marty@mnsenate. gov
Recent federal actions will impact the 2026 session. The 3,000 ICE agents in Minnesota are terrorizing many, especially people of color. Even U.S. Citizens and people with green cards are afraid to leave home because many ICE agents believe they don’t belong here due to their race or ethnicity, and will, without probable cause, often brutally, abduct them.
Sen. Michael Kreun District 32 651-296-1282 sen.michael.kreun@ mnsenate.gov.
My priorities for the upcoming legislative session will be simple: tackling fraud and reining in the overspending. These are the issues I hear the most about from constituents and they will have my full attention this year. Fraud has becoming seemingly endless. It has occurred in numerous areas: health and human
Sen. Heather Gustafson District 36 651-296-1253
sen.hgustafson@mnsenate. gov
Serving in the Minnesota Senate means holding two responsibilities at once: advancing sound public policy and listening closely when people are hurting. This session will demand both.
One of my top priorities remains passage of my independent Office of Inspector General (OIG) bill — a watchdog that will help oversee the use of state tax dollars. I began this work two years ago because Min-
years to make our communities safer through criminal background checks, red flag laws, anonymous threat reporting, violence prevention funding, and more, there is clearly additional work to do to address gun violence. As the co-chair of the House Public Safety Committee I will lead efforts to build a safer future for everyone. Survivors will be at the center of the discussion as we hear bills to ban weapons of war and high capacity magazines. Our past gun violence reduction legislation has been proven successful and has saved lives, and I am certain that these new proposals would continue the progress to reducing deaths and injuries from firearms.
At the time of writing this, Minnesota is still under federal ICE occupation. I can only hope that this occupation has come to an end by session and that our communities can return to some semblance of normalcy. We need stronger state laws to protect Minnesotan
the aisle, while holding true to the values the voters in 40B chose to have represented at the Capitol.
In the President’s own words, the occupation of Minnesota is about retribution - whether it’s extorting the state for voters’ private data, lying about the killings of Minnesotans or unconstitutionally withholding federal funding. To address these emergent threats, I support increasing protections for voters’ private data, holding accountable federal agents who broke the law, enabling citizens to sue federal agents for violating their constitutional rights and recouping dollars from illegal funding freezes.
The federal occupation has also put a huge strain on our economy, with metro businesses losing a projected $20 million of sales per week. This statistic also indicates people are fearful of going to the store and going to work. This federal occupation has put thousands of our neighbors in an economic crisis – all this on top of tariffs, continuing inflation, unsustainably high
Agents violate constitutional rights, stopping cars without probable cause, even smashing car windows, simply to see if people are citizens. If victims can prove citizenship, ICE eventually releases them with no apology, no effort to pay for damage to homes, cars, or their health. Nothing.
The explicit racial targeting of non-white people is stunning. It violates everything we stand for. It’s un-American. For many people of color in Minnesota, the atmosphere is akin to the terror felt by Jewish residents of Berlin in the 1930s.
It’s unbelievable the state must attempt to protect Minnesotans for unconstitutional attacks from our own federal government, but we must try, despite limited tools.
Public safety is one of my session priorities: I‘m working for gun violence prevention, including a ban on assault weapons and large capacity magazines. Also, to improve safety, we need to ensure that people
services programs, education programs, housing programs – the list goes on. Minnesotans have taken notice, and they’re furious. This fraud is impacting taxpayer-funded programs meant to assist our most vulnerable, and that money is instead being used to line the pockets of fraudsters. Minnesotans want us to get our arms around it, which is why I co-authored a bill to create an independent statewide Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to stop fraud in its tracks before it begins. While that bipartisan bill did not make it across the finish line in 2025, I will continue advocating for its passage in 2026. I am proud of the serious bipartisan work we’ve already done, and I’m optimistic we’ll get it passed. We will also explore additional ways to increase oversight for all government agencies: reinstating legislative confirmation of commissioners, creating an Office of Legislative Auditor (OLA)“re-
nesotans deserve strong oversight, real accountability, and confidence that public funds are spent as intended. At a moment when trust in institutions matters deeply, an independent Inspector General is a practical step toward restoring that trust.
I am also working on legislation to provide property tax relief for homeowners feeling the squeeze of rising costs. At the same time, I am advocating for another round of public safety funding for our cities, counties, and Tribal Nations, so local governments can continue investing in police, fire, and emergency services without shifting the burden onto property taxpayers. I am also working to fund local infrastructure projects that strengthen our communities for the long term. Alongside this work, it would be wrong not to acknowledge what many Minnesotans are experiencing right now. The increased federal presence in our state has had real consequences. Parents are fearful about their children getting to and from school. Small
residents. This crisis has laid bare the fact that state government doesn’t have significant power to combat unlawful incursion by the federal government. But there are laws we can pass to reinforce the rights we do have. These include giving residents a clear pathway to seek justice when federal officials violate their constitutional rights, holding federal agents accountable under state law for their crimes, prohibiting federal agents from hiding their identities, and providing aid to those directly harmed by ICE actions. Finally, I will continue to prioritize public safety in Minnesota. That means pursuing legislation and funding initiatives that reduce intimate partner violence. Minnesota has seen a rise in domestic violence deaths, and I have been working with victims and advocacy groups to develop legislation to reduce these acts of violence.
housing, childcare, and healthcare costs, and a bad job market. To address these issues, I aim to provide economic relief for negatively impacted families and local businesses, lower the cost of groceries by supporting Minnesota farmers, implement property tax reform, lower the cost of child care, build toward Medicare for All Minnesotans and fight fraud through program integrity reforms.
Artificial intelligence will cause seismic disruptions in the workforce if we do not install common-sense guardrails around it, having already seen mass layoffs at Target. I will work to impose guardrails to require transparency notices for the use of electronic monitoring and automated decision-making systems, enable workers to countermand or appeal automated decisions, establish a worker’s private right to action if AI technologies are abused in the workplace, and address AI-related job displacement.
struggling with mental health and addiction use problems get the treatment that they need.
As chair of the Senate Finance Committee, I’m working to prevent fraud and save money. Simplifying human service programs, with rigorous audits and financial oversight is critically important in preventing fraud. To enable this, I have legislation to eliminate bureaucracy in public healthcare programs, saving money, serving patients better, and making programs easier to administer so they can focus on eliminating fraud. That legislation is part of my work to reduce costs and ensure all people have access to quality, affordable healthcare.
We face serious challenges and need to work together to address them. Please join me in speaking out and protecting all Minnesotans.
It’s an honor to represent you in the Senate. Please let me know your ideas and concerns. Together we can build a better future for all.
port card” to ensure agencies are following through with recommendations, stiffer penalties for those who engage in fraud, and more. Stay tuned.
When it comes to spending, we know our state is in a tough spot. We had a historic surplus that was spent through, and though we’ll have a small surplus for 2026-2027, we will be left with an over-$5 billion deficit if things don’t change. We need to take a hard look at our budget to find areas in which we can make responsible cuts, and we need to get the fraud under control. Every taxpayer dollar being lost to fraud has an impact on our budget.
If we dive into correcting the fraud and ending the overspending, I believe we can fix our budget and simultaneously help Minnesota families with the high cost of living. It will take a bipartisan, all-hands-ondeck approach, and I’m ready to get to work.
business owners are shutting their doors indefinitely. Neighbors are hesitant to leave their homes. We have seen lives taken and families shattered. I represent a district with a wide range of views and beliefs. While people may disagree on federal immigration policy, I believe we can agree on this: fear, instability, and violence are not healthy for our communities and needs to stop now.
At the same time, I have been encouraged by the way community members are showing up for one another. I recently spent a morning at a local church, sharing coffee and listening. Many people told me they had never gotten involved before, but felt compelled to step forward. For many, this moment has become a turning point.
As a state senator, my role is to represent everyone, center safety and dignity, and keep doing the work Minnesotans sent me here to do, especially during difficult moments.
