Comment period open for Keystone Woods
The Minnesota Department of Natural Resources has opened a 30-day public comment period on the Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area Environmental Assessment. This is a federally required assessment under the National Environmental Policy Act. It evaluates the environmental impacts of the potential federal action of applying a Land and Water Conservation Fund encumbrance to 455.55 acres of the area.
An encumbrance is created when federal funding is used to purchase or improve land for public outdoor recreation. The encumbrance specifies that the land be managed for outdoor recreation in perpetuity; however, federal law allows the encumbrance to be moved from one location to another if certain conditions are met. The process of moving an encumbrance is known as a conversion.
The DNR is asking the National Park Service to place the encumbrance that was removed from land at the former Upper Sioux Agency State Park in Yellow Medicine County onto a portion of Keystone Woods. This conversion was necessitated by the ownership transfer of the former state park land to the Upper Sioux Community. As a result of the ownership transfer, that land no longer provides public outdoor recreation, and the encumbrance must be placed on other land of equal or greater market value that will be used for public outdoor recreation in perpetuity.
The environmental assessment reviews the proposed placement of an encumbrance on Keystone Woods, with associated construction of gravel parking lots to support public outdoor recreation. The environmental assessment solely addresses the conversion triggered by the ownership transfer of Upper Sioux Agency State Park. It does not address the management of Keystone Woods or efforts to provide new and expanded recreational opportunities in the Upper Minnesota River Valley, each of which are separate DNR efforts.
The DNR is taking comments on the environmental assessment through Friday, Aug. 23, at 5 p.m. Mail-in comments must be postmarked on or before Aug. 23, 2025. Comments can be submitted to Sarah Wennerberg, DNR Parks and Trails Division, by:
• Email to sarah.wennerberg@state.mn.us; please put “LWCF on Keystone Woods Wildlife Management Area” in the email subject line
• Calling 651-259-5579
• Mailing Sarah Wennerberg, Parks and Trails Division, Minnesota DNR, 500 Lafayette Road, St. Paul, MN 55155
The environmental assessment can be found online at files.dnr.state.mn.us/input/environmentalreview/keystone-woods/keystone-lwcf-ea.pdf.
Department of Natural Resources
In a world that can feel divided, South Dakota State University School (SDSU) of Communication and Journalism graduate Annika Hanson chose to focus on what brings people together.
Her master’s project, rooted in empathy and connection, helped Dakota Prairie Elementary School in Brookings earn the title of Certified Kindness School, a first for the community.
The Hugo native earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication studies with minors in human development and family studies and health communication in 2023
and her Master of Arts in communication and media studies in 2025, both from SDSU, and was a substitute teacher the past two years, which influenced her project. She decided to make an impact by collaborating with the Random Acts of Kindness Foundation to complete a kindness challenge. The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a nonprofit aiming to inspire and empower individuals, businesses, schools and communities to spread kindness. SEE COLLEGE GRAD PAGE 11
Blue Heron Days
South Dakota State University graduate Annika Hanson shows off the coffee sleeves that elementary students decorated with messages of kindness as part of her master’s degree project.
Minnesota Court of Appeals reverses 2024 water appropriation permits ruling
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A three-judge Minnesota Court of Appeals panel has reversed and remanded last year’s administrative law judge ruling regarding water-appropriation permit amendments.
The 2024 decision had universally rejected a permit condition that would trigger an irrigation ban if White Bear Lake’s water elevation dips below 923.5 feet.
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The new decision undoes that ruling, stating that a water irrigation ban may be appropriate depending on the permit holder. This decision adds yet another layer to a longstanding dispute over the legal measures necessary to maintain the lake level.
The dispute began in 2013, when the White Bear Lake Restoration Association and White Bear Lake Homeowners’ Association Inc. sued the Department of Natural Resources under the Minnesota Environmental Rights Act. The suit alleged that the DNR had “mismanaged the groundwater appropriations permitting process, leading to materially adverse effects on the lake and aquifer.”
A 2017 Minnesota District Court decision found that “groundwater pumping has had a negative, cumulative impact on both the lake and the aquifer.” Subsequently, the DNR amended 44 well permits within a 5-mile radius of White Bear Lake, adding four new conditions. The conditions require permit holders to:
1. Prepare a contingency plan for fully or partially converting to surface water sources.
2. Enforce a residential irrigation ban when notified by the DNR that the lake has fallen below a level of 923.5 feet and until notified that the lake has reached 924 feet.
3. Submit an enforceable plan to phase down per capitaresidential water use to 75 gallons per day and total per capita water use to 90 gallons per day.
4. Report on efforts to collaborate with neighboring communities on reducing water usage.
In December 2020, the Court of Appeals ruled that permit holders can obtain a contested-case hearing regarding these amendments, but they cannot relitigate the negative impact on surface waters. The Court of Appeals also acknowledged that permit holders — especially those not involved in the lawsuit — could hypothetically provide evidence of drawing their water from sources other than the aquifer beneath White Bear Lake. If such were the case, amendments for that specific permit would be adjusted accordingly.
Since that ruling, 17 of the 44 affected permit holders requested contested-case hearings. Ten of the 17 reached settlements; the remaining seven brought a consolidated hearing before an administrative law judge in May 2024. The judge found conditions 1, 3 and 4 to be “reasonable and lawful” measures to protect groundwater supplies. Condition 2, however, the judge found “arbitrary and thus not reasonably necessary.” The seven permit holders appealed the decision regarding Conditions 1, 3 and 4.
On July 14, 2025, the Court of Appeals decided that the 2024 ruling should have neither universally rejected Condition 2 nor universally approved Condition 3.
The Court of Appeals specifically pointed to Lino Lakes’ contested-case arguments as evidence that 2024’s ruling was “arbitrary and capricious.” Lino Lakes argued that Condition 1 is infeasible for it because there is not enough surface water within its borders to support a conversion plan. Because the administrative law judge universally considered Condition 1 to be reasonable, the Court of Appeals argued the 2024 ruling “does not consider the specific arguments made by Lino Lakes … The ALJ’s decision is therefore unsupported by substantial evidence in this regard.”
The matter now goes back to the administrative law judge, who must make additional case-by-case findings for each permit holder. The burden of proof will fall on the permit holder’s representatives, who must justify exemptions to the four conditions.
Dr. Jordan Dittberner and Dr. Tom Hauge
WHAT’S HAPPENING
Fridays with Firefighters
When: 10 a.m.-noon Friday, Aug. 8
Where: Hugo Fire Department, 5323
140th St. N.
Details: Stop by the fire station to meet firefighters, go for a ride in a truck, jump in a bounce house and enjoy free popcorn. This will be the last Fridays with Firefighters event of 2025.
Contact: ci.hugo.mn.us/hfd
CURRENT EVENTS
INTO NATURE COMMUNITY RECEPTION
When: 6-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7
Where: White Bear Center for the Arts, Details: View works of art painted “en plein air” around the community and learn about award winners. Free. Contact: whitebeararts.org
FLY-IN/DRIVE-IN PANCAKE BREAKFAST
When: 8 a.m.-noon Sunday, Aug. 10
Where: Lake Elmo Airport, 3275 Manning Ave. N.
Details: Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA) Chapter 54 hosts kid-friendly breakfast. Airplanes on display. Proceeds fund youth aviation scholarships. Contact: chapters.eaa.org/eaa54
DUBS AND DOGS AT THE FARM
When: 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13.
Where: T & Nae Flower Farm, 15815 Elmcrest Ave. N, Hugo
Details: During T & Nae’s Flowers at the Farm Market, grab a bouquet of flowers and a bite to eat from Smug Pug food truck and listen to music by the Mothers Band. A vintage VW will also be on site for photo opportunities with Tammy Taylor Photography. Donations
raised from photos will be given to FaerieLand Dog Rescue, a rescue that helps corgis and German shepherds. Contact: tandnae.com; faerielandrescue. org
FOREST BATHING
When: 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 19
Where: Wargo Nature Center
Details: Experience an immersive, meditative session of the Japanese practice of shinrin-yoku with a certified guide. Registration information online. Contact: anokacountyparks.com
STAND UP PADDLE BOARDING
When: 4-5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 20
Where: Rice Creek Chain of Lakes Park Reserve
Details: Instruction followed by getting out on the water. Registration information online. Contact: anokacountyparks.com
ONGOING EVENTS
BALD EAGLE WATERSKI SHOWS
When: 7 p.m. Thursdays through end of
August
Where: Trailside Park, Centerville
Details: Volunteer team of waterskiers performs weekly throughout the summer, and travels throughout Minnesota to perform weekend shows. Contact: baldeaglewaterskishows.net
CENTERVILLE MAIN STREET MARKET
When: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Thursdays through August
Where: Trail Side Park, 7145 Main St., Centerville
Details: Local artisans, live music, and food vendors prior to the Bald Eagle Waterski show. Free parking at Centerville Elementary School. Contact: facebook.com/CentervilleMainStreetMarket
HUGO SENIOR CITIZENS PLAY ‘500’
When: 12:45 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 7 and Aug. 21 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
Brain injury survivors find comfort in support group
BY ERIK SUCHY STAFF WRITER
Trauma comes in many forms, and sometimes, what we need is a tightknit community of those with whom we can all relate. That is where Michelle Lang has those individuals covered.
Lang leads the Stroke & Brain Injury Support Group at the M Fairview Health Clinic in Wyoming, which meets on the first Saturday of each month from 9:30-11:30 a.m. The group, founded by Lang for those recovering from different forms of brain trauma, is one she describes as a safe environment for attendees to open up and discuss their struggles.
“I think everyone feels very comfortable with each other there,” said Lang. “We are all a family. We’re all very close.”
The group’s origins are rooted in Lang’s own history of brain trauma following a stroke in April 2023. “I spent about a month in acute rehab,” she explained. “I was in a wheelchair to begin with.
“I was also with a walker and a cane, so I worked my butt off to get to where I was. Eventually, I found that when I went to an exercise class, it made me realize how much in friendships I had lost as a result of the stroke. People don’t know what to say or what to do, so it’s easier for them to walk away or just ignore the whole situation.”
In finding a location to hold group meetings, Lang chose the M Fairview Health Clinic in Wyoming due to its proximity to her residence (Chisago City) and its familiarity. “The closest groups were either up in Duluth or down to the cities,” she said. “I
think that a lot of it was because I was there all the time, too. I talked with the administration, and they were willing to give the space free of charge. It seemed like a natural choice.”
Enlisting the help of her daughter, Anna, to create and spread group flyers, Lang began hosting the first meeting in December of that year. Though attendance was initially minimal, participation steadily increased through Facebook and different neighborhood group websites. By May 2024, the group had 31 members from cities including Hugo and Forest Lake.
Among the first few who joined were Hugo couple Marie and Dennis Knieff. Dennis had previously suffered a malformationinduced brain bleed in 2022, which required emergency surgery. “We’d been coming here for occupational and physical therapy,” said Marie. “I was a little apprehensive just because I’ve never done anything like this, but when I got to know Michelle, it felt like going to your neighbor’s house. She kept us grounded and positive, and it just felt really at home. It’s nice to know it’s getting bigger and bigger all the time.”
After previous groups
closed due to COVID-19, Forest Lake couple Carolyn and Douglas Schulette found Lang.
“As soon as the pandemic came, it left us,” said Carolyn, who had attended a St. Paul-based brain tumor support group with Douglas. “When I saw another group that had to do with brain functioning, I thought it would be a good one to have some other people that he (Douglas) could relate to.”
The group has featured a number of notable guest speakers at certain group meetings. Among them is Dr. Haitham Hussein, a neurologist with M
Health Fairview and the University of Minnesota Medical School, whom Lang herself has seen as a patient.
“There’s a lot of work that goes into starting a support group like that,” said Hussein, “sustaining and keeping it going. Michelle really singlehandedly did that. It isn’t just that she had the motivation; she also had the perseverance to find resources and figure out how to keep things going.”
to spend time with individual stroke/brain injury survivors. “I get to learn more about their everyday struggles beyond the medical aspects,” explained Hussein, “which tends to be the focus when they come to the clinic. In the medical field, we have tools to measure stroke recovery developed based on the doctor’s opinion about what is helpful for a person surviving a stroke. But there is a different point of view when you hear the patient.”
Hussein said that spending this time helped him understand more about himself as a doctor and the group members’ recovery process. “For example, we think that if someone is able to walk, that’s good,” said Hussein. “But maybe you hear from the patient, ‘No, that’s not good enough because I want to be more independent or I want to go back to riding my bike.’
for or what the medical community thinks is a good or bad outcome,” Hussein said. “I also learned from the stroke survivors, when they go to a rehab facility, what ones are good and what are not very good. We can find, for example, more sophisticated therapists to help people recover from stroke in urban settings versus rural settings. It is helpful for me to be in these meetings so I can understand the everyday struggles at home with stroke recovery.
“I am grateful to this support group for inviting me and me to go multiple times. That has always been a fun and lovely experience for me.”
CHURCH
In his role as guest speaker, Hussein said that his goal is not to discuss any one single topic but to see it as an opportunity
CHURCH DIRECTORY
“Sometimes, what is important for stroke survivors and their caregivers might not be what a doctor is looking
CHURCH DIRECTORY
The next group meeting will be from 9:30-11:30 a.m. to noon Saturday, Sept. 6, at the M Health Fairview Clinic, 5200 Fairview Blvd., Wyoming. To learn more about stroke symptoms and treatments, visit the American Stroke Association website at www.stroke.org/en/.
Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site 14383 Forest Blvd N, Hugo Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937
Saturday at 4:30 pm Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville Sunday at 8:30 am St. John’s Site 14383 Forest Blvd N, Hugo Sunday at 10:30 am Parish Community Center 6995 Centerville Rd, Centerville www.stgens.org 651‐429‐7937
CONTRIBUTED
The Stroke & Brain Injury Support Group is a safe haven for stroke and brain injury survivors to connect and support one another.
TYLER QUATTRIN PRESS PUBLICATIONS
Congratulations graduates
Graduations and graduation parties are now history for the summer.
Whether you graduated from high school, college, vocational school, private school or home school, you all need to be congratulated for the hard work and determination to enhance your knowledge of the world around us.
Education doesn’t stop. It goes on in life with advanced programs, on-the-job training, and through wherever your career path takes you.
About the Town
Gene Johnson
What I have learned over the years is surround yourself with good, ethical, hardworking people. They set good examples and you can learn a lot from them.
Another tip is to be kind to everyone you meet. Try hard at whatever you do. Go the extra mile. It will be noticed and you will be rewarded. Another aspect of this is to be an encourager. The best way to succeed in life is to help someone else succeed in theirs.
Your career path may change several times as our technology develops and expands. It always opens new doors. Your interests will change as well. The opportunities will continue and never stop ways to continue your education. Find a mentor, someone ahead of you who can look up to in your career, marriage and eventually parenting, and never be afraid to ask for help.
Then don’t forget to thank your parents. Give them the respect and honor they deserve. They have been there to support you in so many ways. They want the best for you and the older you get, the smarter they seem to be. Then don’t forget to tell them you love them.
Growing postal rates
By now I’m sure our readers are aware that the firstclass Forever stamp has increased to 78 cents, which is having its effects.
This is going to reduce casual correspondence like mailing of holiday cards and birthday cards, as well as difficulties for catalogs, magazines and other print media.
Physical mail has been declining the last number of years, primarily due to the ease of digital. Businesses now send their invoices digitally, as well as mail that comes online as either spam or junk mail soliciting business and merchandise.
The US Postal Service has increased price hikes to twice a year. Some have said it’s because of bad contracts to deliver packages.
In Minnesota this past year we have had a dozen community newspapers close due to rising costs.
We now have in Minnesota a number of online newspapers filling the gap and trying to live on donations. Some are doing well.
The post office is very important for communication of information throughout the entire country. It needs to look for ways to increase efficiency, reliable delivery, and to accommodate periodicals like newspapers, magazines and package delivery at competitive prices.
When a newspaper closes, people don’t realize what they have missed. Statistical information on marketing research has shown that the response to printed material is greater than that of digital, but in many cases the digital is very easy to use. We have also had people tell us we can’t trust online responses to advertising as we can when our responses are local.
It’s another reason to say thank you to our advertisers and subscribers, as well as city, county and state governments for their public notices - an important and necessary means of communicating to citizens at the city, county and state level.
Gene Johnson is publisher emeritus of Press Publications.
TStaying focused on progress
his has been a historic and difficult year for Minnesota and our country. While President Trump has brought division and chaos to Washington, here in Minnesota, we stayed focused on solving problems together and delivering steady progress for our communities. The 2025 legislative session was not easy. The House of Representatives is tied, and the Senate has a narrow DFL majority. After a brief special session, we passed a balanced two-year budget that took effect July 1.
The budget was built across party lines. We made responsible decisions to address future budget shortfalls while maintaining core services. For example, by continuing to fund universal school meals for students, families save hundreds of dollars each year and schools benefit from fewer administrative burdens and a simpler, more efficient system. It is a smart investment that helps both household budgets and school operations.
We also made sure that recent progress was not lost. There were efforts to roll back access to reproductive health care, delay clean energy plans and block paid medical leave. We held the line on those issues while keeping the door
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open to discussion and thoughtful improvement.
Several new laws went into effect on July 1, including teacher pension reform I was proud to help lead. For years, I heard from my fellow educators about the unfairness of current retirement rules. This year, we passed a reform that allows teachers over the age of 60 with more than 30 years of service to retire with fewer financial penalties. It is a long-overdue change that recognizes the dedication of our educators and helps retain and support those nearing the end of their careers.
I also worked closely with law enforcement to pass a bill allowing the use of tracking technology when a driver flees a traffic stop. This reduces the risk of highspeed chases and includes strong protections against misuse. I appreciate the law enforcement partners who collaborated with me on this effort.
Another priority of mine has been stopping fraud. One of those bills focused on our higher education system. Some individuals have taken advantage of financial aid programs by enrolling fake “ghost students” and collecting public money. A new working group, created through legislation I authored, is now developing a comprehensive plan to stop this kind of abuse and protect taxpayer resources.
In addition, I was the chief author of a bill to establish an independent statewide Office of Inspector General, a top priority of mine. It creates an independent oversight authority to investigate
THE CITIZEN | LETTER GUIDELINES
• Letter writers are limited to six letters per year and at least four weeks must lapse between publication. Exceptions may be made for rebuttal letters.
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fraud, abuse, and mismanagement of tax dollars. The bill passed overwhelmingly in the Senate, but unfortunately, fell short in the House. I am committed to doing everything I can to get it passed. Minnesotans deserve transparency, accountability, and confidence that their tax dollars are being used responsibly.
Of course, everything we worked on this year was deeply overshadowed by the heartbreaking events of June 14.
The assassination of Mark and Melissa Hortman and the attempted assassinations of Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette were tragedies that shook all of us. They were public servants, parents and friends. I continue to pray for them.
This moment also calls for reflection on how we engage in political debate. I urge leaders at every level to approach disagreements with real respect, not just for appearances. We need an honest and lasting shift in the way we talk about each other and about politics.
Thank you to everyone who has reached out over the past few weeks. I am honored to represent this community. Please contact my office anytime with questions, ideas or concerns.
Senator Heather Gustafson represents Centerville, Circle Pines, Lino Lakes, Gem Lake, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake, White Bear Township and Birchwood Village in the State Senate. She is Vice Chair of the Senate Education Finance Committee.
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Board of Commissioners begins review of 2026 budget
The Washington County Board of Commissioners has begun reviewing the recommended 2026 countywide budget. It includes budgets for the Washington County Community Development Agency, the departments of Accounting and Finance, and the Office of Administration, Human Resources and Information Technology.
The current budget recommendation includes a 6.9% levy increase to $148.8 million. If adopted, the owner of a median-valued home with a median increase in value would see a $50 increase in the county portion of property taxes for 2026, a 5.1% increase from 2025.
The recommended 2026 budget prioritizes the county’s public and employee-led obligations. The budget will not fund any new programs and will include a limited number of new employee positions. The positions will focus on addressing service backlogs, reducing waitlists for community members awaiting services, and supporting county infrastructure and maintenance projects.
The budget will include one-time funding for electric vehicle charging stations, elections administration and equipment, a Human Resources Information System migration, library extended access planning, the 2026 employee engagement survey, and wayfinding sign updates at two county buildings.
Other long-term capital investments
CENTERVILLE TIDBITS
for facilities will include the Central Yard Waste site and construction of the Park Grove Library. A total of $115.5 million will be allocated for the road and bridge program, including funding for the Highway 36 and County State Aid Highway 17 (Lake Elmo Avenue) intersection project; planning and design for the Public Works South Shop; and general pavement preservation and road reconstruction projects. The budget will include $2.6 million in park investments for projects such as the Hardwood Creek Trail extension and minor park facility improvements.
The board will hear recommended budget presentations from Community Corrections, Community Services, and Public Health and Environment/the University of Minnesota Extension on Aug. 12. Presentations on Property Records and Taxpayer Services and the Library and Law Library will be held on Aug. 19, and the Attorney’s and Sheriff’s offices on Aug. 26.
Following the presentations, the board will follow a budget process from September through early December. The preliminary levy will be set on Sept. 23, followed by a public meeting on the proposed budget and levy on Dec. 2. The budget, property tax levy and capital improvement plan for 2026 will be officially adopted on Dec. 16.
Erik Suchy
HUGO BITS AND PIECES
• Jeff Maas will serve as the city’s new public works utility lead worker. Maas has been part of Hugo Public Works since 2006. The position will be pay grade 6. Maas will begin at the maximum step of the salary matrix.
• Jordan Fahey will join the Planning Commission. The council held interviews on June 30 to consider applications to fill vacant commission positions. Fahey will join the commission immediately.
• Staff will continue work on revising the remote attendance policy following council discussion. The policy, adopted in October 2014,
CHURCH BRIEF
allows council members to use Skype to attend council meetings from locations other than council chambers.
A new law, enacted during the 2025 Minnesota legislative session, changed the state’s Open Meeting Law by eliminating rules regarding the location from which a lawmaker takes a meeting. Staff reviewed the city’s policy on remote attendance and recommended revisions to comply with the state statute. After discussion, the council decided to approve policy changes at a later meeting.
• The Yellow Ribbon Network will host its Shoot for the Troops
St. Joseph of the Lakes hosts summer festival
St. Joseph of the Lakes Catholic Church will put on its annual summer festival Saturday, Aug. 9, and Sunday, Aug. 10. The festival officially begins with an outdoor Mass at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Immediately following Mass will be a dinner,
• The biggest challenge facing the Centennial Lakes Police Department is hiring and retaining officers, Police Chief James Mork told the Centerville City Council at its July 23 regular meeting. Years ago, when Mork applied for a position as a police officer, he said he competed against some 500 applicants. Today, he has approximately 10 to draw from. However, the quality of the candidates is better, he said, because candidates today are serious and committed to serving as a police officer. The department dealt with 3,203 incidents in Centerville during 2024, compared with 2,604 in 2023. They included 354 medical calls, 78 complaints of all sorts, 266 citations, 86 arrests, 50 crimes and 42 accidents during 2024. The number of incidents in most categories increased over the past year. Category A crimes — serious crimes such as theft (21 incidents) and assault (8) — totaled 53 for 2024. Category B crimes — lesser crimes such as DUI (20), liquor law violations (2) and disorderly conduct (1) — amounted to 50 incidents in 2024.
• Holding up his end of the tandem reporting system for law enforcement, Anoka County Sheriff’s Office Chief Deputy Bill Jacobson introduced the sheriff’s office and provided information on how his agency serves Centerville. The office, which has existed since 1857, has 305 full-time employees — 148 sworn deputies and 157 civilian employees. The staff patrols eight communities: Andover, Bethel, Columbus, East Bethel, Ham Lake, Linwood Township, Nowthen and Oak Grove. Although the city uses the police department for policing, Jacobsen said the sheriff’s office works “behind the scenes” to serve the city. The office, headed by Sheriff Brad Wise, has six divisions that provide Centerville with the following services:
- Crime investigation
- Crime scene work
- Jail, SWAT teams, K-9 teams, and drone surveillance
- Special deputies
- A marine unit
- Permit-to-carry administration
- A regional forensic laboratory
- The Anoka County fire investigation team
- Recreational patrol
• The city’s Economic Development Authority provides important services to aid business development, such as graphics consulting, appreciation events, continuing education, professional services, and supplies that include banners, lights, promotional items and miscellaneous office supplies. The EDA needs a budget and funding from the city to pay for everything, and President Mark Remillard attended the July 23 council meeting to present the 2026 EDA budget. The EDA requested $40,000 from the city, which is $16,658.60 less than its 2025 requested contribution of $56,658.60. The EDA spent only 75% of its budget in 2024, and it requested that, instead of allocating funds through the EDA budget, county Housing and Redevelopment Authority funds cover partial costs for participating in the EDA’s revolving loan and grant fund program. Those factors led to the reduction in the proposed budget. The EDA anticipates an ending balance of $91,389 at the end of 2025. The council approved the proposed budget and contribution from the city.
• Alexandra House Executive Director Connie Moore appeared before the council at the July 9 meeting to provide an overview of services offered to Anoka County residents in anticipation of the city helping to pay for the organization’s costs. Alexandra House asked for $2,000, and City Attorney Kurt Glaser said he found the request appropriate. The council agreed and approved the contribution.
• Now that we have turned the corner of summer, winter could show up any time, and that could involve snow removal. In reviewing the capital improvement plan several weeks ago, the council decided it would be a good idea to repair the 2001 Sterling dump truck box and extend the life of the truck for another five to seven years. City staff received quotes from Towmaster and Crysteel for various options. Staff recommended that the existing box be repaired and a new sander be installed by Towmaster of Litchfield for $18,386. The recommendation is based on both cost and timing. The fastest turnaround would be about six weeks, which will have the truck back in service for the upcoming snow season. Other options would take longer and would potentially have the truck out of service until next year. The capital replacement fund would cover
event Tuesday, Aug. 19, at Wild Wings Game Farm in Hugo. The event will raise funds to help support military service members, veterans and their families.
• The 165th Street Alternative Urban Areawide Review open house will take place from 5-6:30 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14, in the Oneka Room at Hugo City Hall, 14669 Fitzgerald Ave. N. Landowners and residents who attend may provide feedback on proposed land-use options and road designs.
Madeline Dolby
with live music starting at 6:30 p.m. followed by a fireworks show. Other events include a chicken picnic from 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Sunday. There will also be a silent auction, a grand raffle and games.
The festival will take place at the church, 171 Elm St., Lino Lakes. For more information, visit www. mystjoes.me.
the repair costs
• The Centennial Fire District is hiring for paid, on-call positions. Anyone interested in becoming a firefighter/EMT is invited to visit the department webpage at www.centennialfire.org for more information.
• The city now has two candidates for the seat left vacant by former Council Member Darrin Mosher and said it would welcome more. One candidate was interviewed during the July 23 work session. The new council member will fill the remainder of Mosher’s term, which expires in January 2027. Submit applications in person at City Hall or by email to Athanasia Lewis at alewis@centervillemn.com.
• The public is welcome to attend a reception for new City Administrator Athanasia Lewis from 5-6 p.m. Aug. 13 at City Hall, before the next council meeting.
• Lewis reminded the public that the 2025 Main Street Market takes place every Thursday at 5:30 p.m. from July 17 to Aug. 21. The location is 1721 Westview St., next to the Centerville Elementary parking lot.
• Music in the Park continues every Tuesday evening until Aug. 19 at Hidden Spring Park. Bring your lawn chair and/or blanket for comfort.
• Dedicated attendees of regular council meetings may want to take a long hard look at their calendars for the coming year. At its work session before the meeting, council members discussed changing its regular meeting day from Wednesday to Thursday for 2026. The second and fourth Thursdays of each month look like the chosen days, because the city attorney and North Metro TV are available to record the meetings.
The council next meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 13, at City Hall.
Loretta Harding
COPS&COURTS
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office reported the following calls for service:
• Deputies cited three vehicles on June 19 for displaying expired registration. The first ticket was dropped at 12:38 a.m. in the 5000 block of 157th Street N., the second at 12:45 a.m. at the same location, and the third at 12:59 a.m. in the 4000 block of Heritage Parkway N.
• A juvenile riding his bike past curfew was cited at 1:09 a.m. June 19 on Oneka Parkway at 149th Street N. Deputies escorted the juvenile home and into his mother’s custody. Another juvenile, or perhaps the same juvenile, was found out and about past curfew at 12:09 a.m. June 20 at the same location. That juvenile was also cited for curfew violation.
• At least it wasn’t quite midnight when parents in the 5000 block of Frenchman Road at 7:49 p.m. June 19 reported their toddler for locking them out of their residence and onto the deck, which is two stories high. The parents had brought their cell phone onto the deck, and when deputies arrived, the toddler had let the parents back in.
• A motorist was cited at 8:20 p.m. June 19 in the 5000 block of Frenchman Road for blowing through a red light at a controlled intersection.
• An unidentified motorist was arrested at 1:14 p.m. June 20 in the 5000 block of 140th Street N. for domestic assault and DWI criminal vehicular operation that caused an accident and harm to another person.
• The Hugo Kwik Trip in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Boulevard N. reported a shoplifter at 9:03 p.m. June 20.
• In the Case of the Resident Raccoon, property owners in the 16000 block of Elmcrest Avenue at 2:33 p.m. June 21 reported baby raccoons making themselves comfortable under their vehicle. The complainant called back with an update that the raccoon family was seen headed to the forest.
• Deputies on patrol at 5:24 a.m. June 23 discovered a street sign lying in the middle of the roadway on Frenchman Road. They moved the sign to the median and advised public works to take care of the sign.
• At 8:51 a.m. June 23, deputies conducted a traffic stop on Everton Avenue N. and Frenchman Road and arrested the driver for undisclosed reasons.
• An irate resident in the 13000 block of Fondant Trail at 4:06 p.m. June 23 called to tell deputies a neighbor’s vehicle was illegal because it makes loud exhaust noises. The complainant directed deputies to camp out at the neighbor’s property and wait for the vehicle to return. Deputies quickly advised the complainant that they would be on the lookout while on patrol but would not sit and wait for this specific neighbor. The tickedoff complainant threatened to misuse 911 services until the problem was fixed.
• In the Case of the Gone Geese, a large number of dead geese was reported at 9:46 p.m. June 23 in the 14000 block of Victor Hugo Boulevard N. After deputies handed off the case of carnage to the Lino Lakes Police Department, deputies received a report that one of the geese was still alive; it was brought to a rehabilitation center in Roseville.
• A Hugo resident from an undisclosed location at 1:41 p.m. June 24 reported that his checking account had been compromised to the tune of $5,555.
• A motorist on Frenchman Road at Elmcrest Avenue
N. at 5:59 p.m. June 24 received citations for failure to provide proof of insurance or a valid driver’s license following a traffic stop for expired registration. During the stop, deputies learned that the suspect also had a sign-and-release warrant out on him. The driver was released, but not before receiving a bit of paperwork.
• A person in the 16000 block of Empress Avenue N. at 10:08 p.m. June 24 was arrested on warrant and transported to jail without incident.
• A father at an undisclosed Hugo location at 11:37 a.m. June 25, who reported his son for cashing three insurance checks more than three years ago, was told that the statute of limitations had expired. The complainant also reported that there was a civil dispute over ownership of the home in which he and his son were living. Deputies confirmed that district court was handling the civil matter and that a judge would decide who owns the home.
• Deputies were dispatched to a disagreement between a father and son on a walk on Fenway Boulevard N. at 6:32 p.m. June 25.
• Juveniles playing basketball in the 15000 block of Farnham Avenue were reported at 7:32 p.m. June 25 for using language the complainant didn’t like. Due to the lack of criminal activity, deputies did not dispatch themselves to the scene.
• A suspicious male reported at a construction site in the 4000 block of Rosemary Way at 11:17 a.m. June 13 turned out to be an employee, according to the job foreman.
• Deputies at 12:52 a.m. June 14 cited a motorist on Forest Boulevard N. and 125th Street N. for driving an uninsured motor vehicle, following a traffic stop for driving conduct.
• After residents in the 15000 block of Glenbrook Avenue N. reported an unoccupied parked vehicle blocking their driveway at 3:05 p.m. June 14, deputies spoke to the residents and concluded that they had more than enough room to move and that their “claim of being blocked in was wrong.” Deputies assisted the complainants in turning their vehicle’s steering wheel all the way to the left so they could emerge from their driveway.
• A person unwanted in the 15000 block of Forest Boulevard N. turned out to have been very much wanted by law enforcement and was arrested at 6:56 p.m. June 14, following a trespassing complaint in which the suspect was discovered to have had a warrant.
• Uber passengers dropped off in the 14000 block of Finale Avenue N. at 10:33 p.m. June 15 reported their driver for getting political and talking at length about how Israel had sent missiles to Iran.
• Deputies on routine patrol at 12:02 p.m. June 16 on 140th Street N. at Forest Boulevard N. observed an elderly man hitchhiking just south of 140th Street. The man, who said he had been trying to get home to Forest Lake from Florida, had physical limitations that made it difficult for him to walk more than a couple of feet without getting tired. If he had walked that whole way, it could explain his fatigue, but if he had hitchhiked, that would have been illegal. Deputies advised the walker to seek an alternate transportation plan because he could not hitchhike, nor could he depend on receiving courtesy rides from the sheriff’s office.
• After receiving a call from an unknown location in Hugo at 4:14 p.m. June 16, about a license plate stolen
PUBLIC SAFETY BRIEF
from a place of employment in Hennepin County, deputies told the complainant to file a police report where the crime happened. They also told the complainant to purchase a new license plate as soon as possible at any Driver and Vehicle Services location.
• A resident in the 4000 block of 158th Street N. at 6:58 a.m. June 17 reported someone banging on her door. She said she reported it because the disturbance was an ongoing issue with juveniles in her neighborhood.
• A resident in the 5000 block of 165th Street N. at 10:51 a.m. June 17 reported being assaulted by an employer and sustaining a fractured jaw.
• A Honda Ridgeline pickup truck was specifically identified and reported for entering the complainant’s driveway in the 6000 block of 151st Street N. at 12:38 p.m. June 17. It turned out to be a male looking at townhouses in the area.
• Residents in the 5000 block of 157th Way Court N. at 3:31 p.m. June 17 reported someone knocking on their door. This time, the knocker hung around long enough for deputies to speak to her.
The suspect said she knocked to see if the homeowner would give water to her dog, with which she was out for a walk. On identification, deputies discovered the woman had an unserved order for protection and served her the short form order. Clearly, juveniles weren’t the only ones knocking on doors all summer.
• Deputies took a call from an extremely irate complainant in the 5000 block of Evergreen Drive N. at 7:31 p.m. June 17, who wanted to be seen in person after having complained about a juvenile the previous day. Due to the degree of anger, deputies determined the complainant should be heard and not seen.
• A motorist with multiple equipment violations was cited at 11:32 p.m. June 17 on Frenchman Road and Victor Hugo Boulevard N.
• Deputies were dispatched to the 14000 block of Francesca Avenue N. at 10:36 a.m. June 18 to deal with a man sitting in the street. The man stated he did not need assistance, not even a ride home, because he lived nearby and was walking home.
• Hugo Public Works fired an employee at 1:56 p.m. June 18 without fear because deputies had their backs. Deputies watched the suspect leave the grounds in the 8000 block of 140th Street N. after he was let go.
• Deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop on a motorcycle at 9:37 p.m. June 18 on Forest Boulevard N. at Frenchman Road, but the biker fled from the stop.
Loretta Harding
sexual conduct
Hugo man charged with criminal
A Hugo man has been charged with sexually assaulting two minors at the Water’s Edge Community Center Pool. Jeremy John Miller, 44, is charged with two counts of fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct involving juveniles under 18.
According to the criminal complaint, deputies with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to the pool in the 15200 block of Farnham Ave. N around 4:30 p.m. July 28, after reports that an adult man had been touching kids inappropriately. A 14-yearold girl told deputies that the man approached her during a game of “chicken” and asked her to get on his shoulders. She said he told
her he was divorced and wanted a girlfriend and said he should “pay her” while touching his genital area. The girl reported that when the group started playing football in the water, the man went underwater and swam toward her. She tried to get away, but he grabbed her buttocks with both hands. She said he then came up behind her and touched her genital and waist area.
A 13-year-old boy told deputies he had also been touched by the suspect. According to the complaint, he said that while he was playing with water guns, the man bear-hugged him from behind and worked his hands down his body, grabbing near his genitals.
Adults at the pool described the man as “acting creepy” toward the kids and identified him as Miller.
Deputies were unable to locate Miller on July 28 but arrested him on July 29 after receiving reports that he was back at the pool. Deputies say Miller repeatedly claimed that he did not know if he had touched the girl inappropriately. He said that if he did, it was an accident.
A detective who reviewed the surveillance video said Miller was seen chasing the girl several times in the pool, including one instance where she kicked at him in an attempt to escape.
Miller’s bail was set at $20,000 with conditions. He faces up to 10 years in prison on each count if convicted.
Hugo Fire responds to basement fire
Around 3 p.m. on Wednesday, July 16, a Hugo homeowner returned home and heard smoke alarms sounding in his house. When he entered, he encountered moderate smoke throughout and immediately called 911.
When the Hugo Fire Department arrived, firefighters found the first floor filling with smoke and the basement full of smoke. They could not see through the windows. Firefighters were advised of a dog kenneled in the basement and a cat somewhere on the first floor.
The first crew entered the home and found the dog. A second crew entered the home to assist with fire attack and search for the cat. The cat was located, and both animals were secured in a vehicle and monitored for smoke inhalation.
An investigation found the fire started on an electric range in the basement and spread to a trash can nearby. There were no injuries reported. The Forest Lake,
White Bear Lake, Centennial and Lino Lakes fire departments, along with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and an M Health Ambulance, assisted on the scene.
White Bear Lake man charged with murder in fatal Eagan high-speed crash
A 20-year-old White Bear Lake man has been charged with third-degree murder and criminal vehicular homicide following a high-speed crash in Eagan that left two teenagers dead.
Jordan John Weiland faces four felony charges in connection with the June 14 crash, which prosecutors allege was the result of reckless street racing, according to court records.
A criminal complaint said that three vehicles — a Jeep Compass, a Honda Accord and a Dodge Durango — were involved in the crash just before 11:30 p.m. near the intersection of Highway
PINE TREE Apple Orchard
149 and Highway 55.
Police found the Jeep split in half after it struck a semaphore pole. The driver, Reed Robert Schultz, 19, and the passenger, Finnian Thomas Cronin, 18, were unresponsive at the scene. Both later died of their injuries.
Witnesses told police the vehicles had been traveling together from a car meetup in South St. Paul to another in Eagan. Cell phone videos showed the Honda and Dodge reaching speeds of approximately 110 mph, according to the complaint.
Weiland told police he was driving the Honda, which sustained significant damage. He left the scene in another vehicle before officers arrived. He was later found at a hospital, where he said
he left the scene because he was not thinking straight, according to the complaint.
The Dodge, driven by Melody Lynn Little, 24, of West St. Paul, was not damaged. Little is facing identical charges in a separate case.
Both Weiland and Little denied they were racing. Weiland reportedly acknowledged that “it likely looked like racing” and admitted his actions were “eminently dangerous,” according to the complaint. He was arrested at his White Bear Township home on July 25 after a warrant was issued for his arrest. He is scheduled to appear for an omnibus hearing at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 16 in Dakota County District Court.
Jordan John Weiland
Soar in summer fun at Blue Heron Days
Blue Heron Days is fast approaching. The popular family get-together will be Aug. 14-17. Most events will be held at The Rookery Activity Center in Lino Lakes.
The celebration was established in 2004 by a small group of area volunteers who desired to make the vision of a Lino Lakes community festival into a reality. After extensively researching other community festivals throughout the state, the volunteers paved the road in making Lino Lakes “the place to be” each year during the third weekend of August.
Many popular attractions will return, while new attractions have been added to the docket.
Centennial Community Education will kick off the festivities with food trucks and a fun festival from 4-8 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 14, at Centennial Middle School. The fun festival will include the Cruisin’ Blue Heron car show and a demonstration by the Centennial Robotics Centurions youth sports team.
From 4:30-7 p.m. Friday at The Rookery, visitors can participate in a touch-a-truck event, play various carnival games and catch “Finding Nemo” in The Rookery’s gym.
Ali Lukin, activity center coordinator for The Rookery, said the power wheels derby will make its return. She said there will be changes to the course, making it bigger and better than before.
Children ages 10 and under can take part. They will drive their power wheel through an obstacle course with various terrains. Registration and a small fee are required to participate in the derby.
Lukin added that pony rides are back.
In addition, children who attend the festival and complete an activity card will receive a frozen treat. Lukin said activities on the card include carnival games and jumping in a bounce house.
The Blue Heron Days parade will take place at 11 a.m. on Sunday. This year, a new parade route will follow a portion of Elm Street, turn down Sunrise Drive and follow a portion of Second Street. The parade will start and end at Centennial Middle School.
The Rookery is located at 7690 Village Dr., Lino Lakes.
Madeline Dolby
PHOTOS
Blue Heron Days will take place at The Rookery Aug. 14-17. Activities include a parade, open swimming and more.
Mark your maps: Parade to follow new route this year
2025 BLUE HERON DAYS PARADE route
BY MADELINE DOLBY EDITOR
Blue Heron Day paradegoers can expect to see a new route this year. Previously, the route followed Lake Drive and was approximately a mile long. This year, the parade will be close to two-miles and start on Elm Street, turn down Greenbriar Drive and up Second Street.
“We have been considering moving the parade route off of Lake Drive for the past several years. The old route was
of Lake Drive, which closed off access to some of the neighborhoods for a few hours and caused frustration.
Saturday, August 16th, 2025
DeGardner said that moving the parade route not only eliminates the need to spend money for detour signage but will not impede motorists driving along Lake Drive.
Parade
Moving the route will also offer more parking for paradegoers. Those who plan attend the parade will be able to park at Centennial Middle School, Sunrise Park and St. Joseph’s Church.
How to prepare for 2025 parade
one of the police officers who will be located at various intersections along the parade route or call 911. When you leave, expect some traffic congestion and please be patient.
Curt Boehme is the Lino Lakes chief of police.
and ends: Centennial
COLLEGE GRAD: Master’s project fosters discussions about kindness
FROM PAGE 1
Through educational resources, certifications, collaborations and kindness initiatives, the foundation works to create change.
During her time as an undergraduate, Hanson created connections that played a role in shaping the project. One of those connections, Carleen Holm, was especially monumental in getting the project going. Holm is a counselor at Dakota Prairie Elementary. She gives social and emotional lessons at the school, something that interested Hanson in pursuing a collaboration with Holm and Dakota Prairie.
“I knew I wanted to surround it with something working with children,” Hanson explained. “I was also a mentor for the Brookings County Youth Mentoring Program, and seeing the daily impact that program makes for children was another big reason I wanted to find a project that could make an impact.”
Inspired by her experiences mentoring youth and her desire to create meaningful impact, Hanson developed a hands-on learning experience that would resonate with elementary students.
“I structured my resources around three key principles:
observe, communicate and participate,” Hanson said. “Using these guiding concepts, I designed an activity that allowed students to first observe acts of kindness, then engage in discussions about their observations and the impact kindness had in the video and, finally, take part in their own act of kindness.”
That culminating act focused on the power of positive messages and how they can create ripple effects within a community. To expand the reach of these messages beyond the school walls, Hanson sought out local partnerships.
Kool Beans, a Brookings coffee shop, donated coffee sleeves for students to decorate with uplifting, encouraging messages. These sleeves were then distributed to customers during Random Acts of Kindness Week in February.
In addition to this community-facing activity, students also wrote kind messages on sticky notes and placed them on lockers throughout the school building.
“Through this activity, they actively practiced kindness, building confidence, self-efficacy and a sense of community,” Hanson said. “By the end of the school day, multiple students expressed excitement about continuing acts of kindness because of how it made
them feel and how they saw it impact others.”
What started as a simple classroom lesson on kindness quickly spread excitement throughout the school hallways and beyond.
“They had so much fun decorating and taking pride in spreading a positive message that someone anonymous would read,” Holm said. “One student asked if there was a way to guarantee her mom seeing what she created if they went to Kool Beans.”
Hanson said it is hard to put into words what this project has meant to her. “This project was incredibly impactful and meaningful to me at all levels,” she said.
“A project like this can have a significant impact on the entire school district and community,” Hanson added. “Introducing and fostering discussions about kindness is essential — every meaningful change begins with a first step. This project not only brings the conversation into the classroom but also initiates a lasting movement of kindness within the school and beyond.”
Hanson’s story is a reminder that kindness isn’t just a concept — it’s a catalyst for change.
South Dakota State University
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PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Hugo native Annika Hansen says it’s hard to put into words what her master’s project means to her.
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CITY OF HUGO ORDINANCE 2025-544
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 90, ARTICLE, SECTION 90-227 AS IT RELATES TO FENCES
TITLE:
An ordinance adding to and amending Chapter 90, Article VI. –REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC USES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, Section 90-227. – Fences., Subsection (g). – Prohibited parking. THE CITY OF HUGO ORDAINS: The City Council of the City of Hugo does hereby amend Article VI REQUIREMENTS FOR SPECIFIC USES AND PERFORMANCE STANDARDS, Section 90-227 FENCES.
Removing items under Subsection (b):
(b)Fences are allowed as an accessory use in all zoning districts of the city. No fence shall be constructed in the urban development area or on a parcel of land ten acres or less in size in the rural residential zoning district without a permit issued by the city building official.
Amending items under Subsection (d), (e), (f), (j) and (o) to read as follows:
(d)No fences shall be placed in a public road right-of-way, except temporary barriers authorized by public safety personnel, the city engineer, or the city public works director.
(e) As to any fence (or any structure or landscaping), or any part thereof, installed or present within a public easement, the city may remove the fence (or order it removed at its own discretion) in the event that work needs to be performed within the easement free of any claims of cost, loss or damage. The city and any agent of the city shall be held harmless for any and all claims for damage to the fence, or part thereof, arising out of or relating to work performed in the easement, including but not limited to the removal of the fence or any part thereof. The city is not responsible or liable for the costs of repair, reinstallation or restoration of any fence or part thereof removed from the easement.
(f)Fences (or any structure or landscaping), may not be placed within a public easement where public improvements are located, or where an easement provides access to a public improvement, without first receiving approval of an encroachment agreement by the public works director or other designee, along with proof that the agreement has been filed with the record for the property in the office
When not legislating, local lawmaker gets in some swings
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Elliott Engen is 2-for-3 so far in political elections. His winning percentage on baseball teams is not nearly as good, but nothing can dim the 26-year-old Lino Lakes resident’s enthusiasm for the sport he’s played since childhood.
“Baseball is my passion,” said the former White Bear Lake and Hamline catcher who’s played for White Bear Township four years while serving District 36A in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
“I’ve loved the competition and the camaraderie of baseball at every level,” said Engen. Duty, however, frequently intervenes. “We get called in for special sessions, and there’s town halls, marketfest, and hearing from constituents. And (the legislature) is my first priority.”
“Elliott misses the most games of anyone,” said White Bear Township manager Bill Capocasa. “He’s pretty busy. He’s older than the other guys, he’s got a young kid, and he’s got his legislature duty. But he’s a good guy to have on the team.”
In addition to baseball, Engen has passion for public service. It started at home with admiration for his father, a fire fighter at the time. The phone would ring in the middle of the night and Andrew Engen would rush to a fire. Elliott loved hearing his stories the next day.
While still in college, Engen wanted start making his own public service contribution. “I got into politics early,” he acknowledges.
“Instead of hoping things would change for the better, I wanted to see if I could do something about it.”
Engen lost by 100 votes in 2020 at age 21, but won in 2022 and won again in 2024. “People saw a need for a new generation,” surmised Engen, the youngest local elected official in decades. He graduated from Hamline during the fall of his first election cycle.
Hoping to follow his father, grandfather and uncle as a volunteer fireman, he is waiting to get into the firefighter academy.
As a ballplayer, Engen is a rare switch hitter. Naturally right-handed, he taught himself to bat lefty before age ten because he was enamored with the left-handed swings of Joe Mauer (“that inside out swing to slap the ball to left”), Barry Bonds (“all those homers into McCovey Cove”) and Ken Griffey Jr. (“an uppercut that was a work of art.”)
Engen got plenty of at-bats both ways growing up in West Park, near Memorial Beach. “There were about 35 boys within three
blocks and we would play baseball sun up to sun down, every day — then go swimming.”
Engen was a four-year starter at catcher for the Bears on teams that went 17-59, earning academic all-conference honors. Victories have also been scarce with White Bear Township; currently they are 5-15. Engen hit close to .300 two years ago when he was able to play a lot of games. Last year he was campaigning and didn’t suit up at all, and this year he’s made just four games.
At Hamline, he got more a taste of winning. He was a two-year starting catcher, batting .205 and .225, on teams that went 17-20 and 17-22. They didn’t have much power but scrapped with singles, walks, bunts, hit-by-pitches. He enjoyed their small-ball approach: “We called it ‘Hunting 90.’ We played 90 feet at a time.”
Engen had one particular moment of glory as a Piper. Pinch hitting with bases loaded in the last inning against St. John’s, one run down, and batting lefty against a left-hander, he executed a Joe Mauer inside-out swing just right. “I hit one right on the screws, and smoked it off the wall in left field,” he said. “A walk off hit! Everyone mobbing me. We did the ‘dogpile’ and all that. I still have the video of it.”
Baseball is more than fun; it’s also a good teacher, he maintains. “The skills and life lessons you learn translate over to public service — to have fun, work hard, be honest.”
Local figure skaters among leaders at nationals in Blaine
White Bear Skating School placed fifth of 45 teams in the Ice Sports Industry (ISI) nationals, with one first-place finish and six top-five finishes. Nationals took place at the National Sports Center in Blaine July 24-27.
The Production Extravaganza Team placed first. The Despicable Disco Minions placed second. The club had Team Compulsory units competing, with three of
them placing second, one third, and one fourth.
The White Bear Lake club had 55 individuals skating in more than 150 events, reported Amy Flater, skating coordinator. Over 25 family members and others joined in team events.
Competing were many Minnesota teams along with groups from Alaska, California, Missouri, Florida, Texas, South Dakota, the Philippines and more, Flater said.
Ex-Cougar among 3 new fall coaches at Centennial
BY BRUCE STRAND SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR
Centennial has three new head coaches for the upcoming fall season, including former Cougar athlete Kelly Quach. The others are Alex Lynch and Nathan Anderson.
Quach will coach girls tennis, succeeding her own coach at Centennial, Arnie Lamers, who retired after 25 seasons. Quach coached at Totino-Grace the past four years. She was a school teacher for five years before joining Public Indoor Tennis as an instructor in 2022.
“I am grateful for this wonderful opportunity,” Quach said. “It is a full circle moment for me as I was a player in this program. Arnie has done a great job of building the program. I am excited to come back to Centennial to continue the legacy.”
She was Kelly Jachymowski when she played for the Cougars from 2007-12, made all-conference twice and placed fourth in the state in doubles. She also made all-conference as a junior at Upper Iowa.
Lynch will coach boys soccer, getting the job after four years as an assistant coach at Andover the last four years. He is also a club team coach. Lynch played for Coon Rapids High School and Upper Iowa University as a defender.
Anderson will coach boys and girls cross country, after serving as assistant previously. He teaches at Science Pines School and is assistant coach for girls basketball. In college, he was a two-year captain at Minnesota-Duluth.
The White Bear Lake Skating School’s Production Extravaganza Team won their competition.
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
Alex Lynch
Kelly Quach
BRUCE STRAND | CONTRIBUTED
Elliott Engen limbered up for an at-bat in June for White Bear Township.
Historic river cruise to focus on the St. Croix’s history
Angie Hong will narrate the St. Croix River Historic Cruise, a fundraiser for the Washington County Historical Society, from 5:30-8 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug.19. The St. Croix River has been a main thoroughfare for centuries. Indigenous peoples used it for fishing and travel; voyageurs used it for travel in their large birch bark canoes. The lumber industry used the river to send logs to mills. Today, the river is a summer getaway.
Hong will point out some historic points from one of the Stillwater River Boats. The event includes appetizers and a full cash bar. Tickets must be purchased in advance. For
more information, call the historical society at 651-439-2298 or visit www.wchsmn.org.
New Washington County service center set to open Aug. 25
Washington County’s Central Service and License Center is in its final phase of construction and scheduled to open to the public on Monday, Aug. 25. The center will provide an expanded list of services, such as vehicle registration, state IDs, driver’s licenses, crisis intervention, financial support, CareerForce workforce development, and property taxes and homesteading.
The center will replace the county’s Woodbury service center, located on Radio Drive, which will close on Friday, Aug.
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22. The new service center is located at 1261 Woodlane Drive, Woodbury. For more information, visit washingtoncountymn.gov.
See shoebox museums at Historic Courthouse
Through Aug. 22, a unique “micro museum” exhibit is on display at the Washington County Historic Courthouse. The museum consists of specially designed shoeboxes from kids, featuring presentations on a subject of their choice. The boxes combine objects, photographs and printed internet images. Each one was named by its designer and given a short description of its history. See them from 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Saturday
and Sunday.
Those with questions can contact the courthouse’s main line at 651-275-7075 or email HistoricCourthouse@washingtoncountymn.gov. The courthouse is located at 101 W. Pine St., Stillwater.
Washington County announces new slogan
Washington County has announced its new official slogan: “Rooted in connection, growing with direction.” According to Senior Communications Specialist Brian Kauffenberg, the new slogan is meant to reflect the county’s updated mission, vision and values, which have been adopted for its 2024-2029 strategic plan.
Kauffenberg said connection refers to the county’s aim to
foster relationships among people, neighborhoods and communities and to help everyone feel a sense of belonging. It also means connecting residents with services that improve their quality of life. Direction reflects the county’s mission to guide decisions and investments that serve the population while honoring the county’s history and natural resources. “These words reflect our deep ties to the land and communities Washington County serves,” Kauffenberg said. “The county is rooted in values and committed to growing with intention — through thoughtful planning, expanding infrastructure and adapting to change.”
andArts Culture2025
EMERGING ARTIST: MALLORY CLEM
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
By the time Mallory Clem enters White Bear Lake Area High School as a freshman this fall, she will have been under the spotlight in three different musicals. In April, she played Delia Deetz in White Bear Lake Combined Middle Schools’ production of “Beetlejuice Jr.” In June, she played Glinda in Children’s Performing Arts’ (CPA) production of “Wizard of Oz.” Now, she plays Regina George, the queen bee and
antagonist in “Mean Girls.” Five years ago, however, she was not allowed on stage, much less front and center.
“Otter Lake Elementary school works with Ashland (Productions), and every year, they put on a musical …” recalled Clem before laughing while covering her face. “The first time I got my costume, and I was performing with everyone, I went home, I laid in my mom’s bed and I’m like, ‘I think I like this … I want to do this for a while.’”
That production was canceled due to the COVID pandemic a month later.
Like many, Clem was scared to interact with others once quarantine was lifted.
CBY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
hildren’s Performing Arts’ (CPA) production of “Mean Girls” has an ironic feature: Everyone in the cast is nice to one another. Cast members believe that the reason they can be friends while performing the show’s material—an acidic comedy about a transfer student who gets roped into a revenge scheme to infiltrate and overthrow her new school’s queen bee—is because of trust built on past relationships.
“I don’t think there’s a lot of people in this cast that don’t know each other,” said Audriana Walsh-Smith, who plays Janice Ian, the girl who hatches the revenge plot.
K“After COVID, I had extreme social anxiety—and now look where I am,” she compared, motioning to an all-cast dance rehearsal. “Theater has definitely helped me bump out of that COVID stuff.”
Once theaters reopened, Clem not only signed up for a redo of her school’s production, but she also auditioned for any opportunity she could after that. “Seventh grade summer, I decided to do a summer full of musicals,” Clem explained. “Then, I auditioned for ‘Beetlejuice,’ and I had this newfound confidence… It wasn’t a full year since I had auditioned, it was two months.”
Clem also credits CPA for boosting her theatrical skills. “Anybody can come to
‘MEAN GIRLS’ CAST CLICKS
“It’s very close-knit. We’re all willing to help each other.”
Another likely reason this cast gels is because, unlike the head of a clique, director Vanessa Agnes is collaborative rather than authoritative. “I feel like when you are so hard and unyielding, even if that’s coming across as your passion for it, it can close the door into working with your actors…” explained Agnes. “Yeah, here’s a direction, but I want to see where you take it and run with it and go.”
One of Agnes’ directions for each cast member to bring their lived experiences to their roles.
Mallory Clem, an incoming freshman who plays Regina George, the show’s queen bee, approaches her relationship with the
protagonist like she would her little brother. “It’s kind of nice to tune into that sassier side,” she said.
Jackie Gaalaas, an East Ridge High School junior who plays Cady Heron, the transfer student, is fittingly the only major cast member new to CPA. “I relate to (Cady) especially being new to a theater company, just trying to make sure I fit in with everybody. … just being an excited teenager and then getting into a space and it not being exactly how you thought it would be,” she said. Gaalaas differentiated, though, that her experience at CPA is merely different than other theater companies, while Cady Heron’s experience quickly becomes tyrannical.
Walsh-Smith, meanwhile,
is tapping into the hurt that cliques can cause. “I was betrayed … during middle school, and Janice is betrayed twice by Regina and Cady. She has so much anger and trust issues.”
Gaalaas believes that “Mean Girls” is about moving past anger and seeing the other person in a friendship. “Everybody is their own person. Everybody has a good side,” Gaalaas stated. Clem, however, views that statement from the other side of the coin: “Everybody. Everybody is a mean girl. Even the guys.”
Children’s Performing Arts production of “Mean Girls” runs Aug. 8-10 at the Hanifl Performing Arts Center. For tickets and details, visit childrensperformingartsmn.org.
‘ART IN THE PARK’ DRAWS KIDS TOGETHER
BY LOGAN GION CONTRIBUTING WRITER
elly Tokay, an elementary art teacher in the Anoka-Hennepin school district for over 30 years, stepped away from her job because of a breast-cancer diagnosis. After over a year of treatment, Tokay felt called to reach children who did not have access to elementary art programs. Since that decision, Tokay has taught elementary art over extended stays in both Spain and Jamaica.
This summer, though, Tokay is teaching at Spruce Park in White Bear Lake.
A White Bear resident for 22 years, Tokay’s own children did not have access to art at their elementary schools; the district has only recently begun offering half-year programs for that age group. For the other half of the year and during the summer, however, opportunities are difficult to find. Therefore, Tokay decided to fill the gap.
“Some of the neighbor kids kept asking me to do an art project with them,” explained Tokay. “I thought, ‘Why don’t we do art in the park?’” From there, Tokay applied for and received a grant from the Minnesota Regional Art Council. Now, every
Tuesday and Thursday, Tokay runs a free (with advanced signup) art class for kids ages 4-12.
“I really wanted to give back to my community that I love,” said Tokay.
“After 30 years of teaching, I know how art can change students’ lives and help them with mental health and confidence.”
Art in the Park’s lessons change depending on the day. One Tuesday, for instance, the children made a clay textured landscape. “We used carving tools and used different textures to press into the clay,” Tokay explained. “We looked at two different landscapes that are at the Minneapolis Institute of Art … They noticed that it showed space in art, so things that are further away are smaller. Things that are closer are
bigger.” August’s lessons will revolve around clay coil pots and seascapes. No matter the project, Tokay finds the kids’ reactions to be her favorite part, especially if this is a child’s first art class. “One little girl, she’s a homeschooler, gave me a card that said, ‘You’re the best. You’re my favorite art teacher,” Tokay said before laughing, “I thought it was so funny because I’m the only art teacher she’s ever had.”
To have your child participate in Art in the Park, register at themnvangoghproject.net. Spots are limited. Tokay plans to open registration for next summer’s classes in mid-March 2026.
CPA, and it will change you for the better. I tell everyone, ‘You want to get a a better role, or you wanna you wanna improve a little bit? Go to CPA.”
In the immediate future, Clem plans to try out for White Bear Lake’s fall highschool musical, “Cinderella.” Beyond that, Clem has plenty of time to figure out a career path—though she knows that, whatever goals she sets, the skills she learned in theater will help her get there.
“Theater will teach you a so many things—being proud of yourself, accepting an audience and just talking… It is crazy how much theater can change a person,” Clem said.
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN FOR THEATER SUMMER CAMPS
All camps take place at Hanifl Performing Arts Center, 4941 Long Ave., White Bear Lake
ADVENTURES IN CANDYLAND
Grades: K-2
Dates: 9:30-11:30 a.m. Aug. 4-8
Details: Journey through the Peppermint Forest and cross the Gumdrop Pass in this weeklong adventure through CandyLand. Students will spend time reading books, telling stories and creating characters. Friends and family are invited for a special showcase at the end of the week. More information at childrensperformingartsmn.org/ programs.
SOLVE IT! CAMPGROUND KIDS MYSTERIES
Grades: 3-6
Dates: 1-4 p.m, Aug. 4-8
Details: Grab your detective hats—it’s time to crack the case. In this weeklong camp inspired by “The Campground Kids” series by C.R. Fulton, students will dive into exciting mysteries while exploring outdoor spaces in White Bear Lake. Friends and family are invited for a special showcase at the end of the week.
STORYTELLING THROUGH DANCE
Grades: 3-7
Dates: 12:30-4:30 p.m. Monday-Friday, Aug. 4-15
Where: Shoreview YMCA, 3760 Lexington Ave. N., Shoreview
Details: Let your child’s creativity take center stage in this two-week camp that uses movement, dance and imagination to bring stories to life. This program is perfect for any child who loves to move, imagine and create. No dance experience necessary. More information at lakeshoreplayers.org/theatre-education.
ONE-ACT PLAY: ‘CAP’N HOOK’
Grades: 7-12
Dates: 12:30-4:30 p.m. Aug. 11-15
Details: Students will rehearse and perform the one-act play “Cap’n Hook” by Jason Witter in just one week. Through a series of flashbacks, Hook shows the audience Neverland from the pirates’ point of view. Friends and family are invited to come to see the final performance at the end of the week. More information at childrensperformingartsmn.org/ programs.
Mallory Clem
A clay landscape piece. Children attending Art in the Park work on projects like these every Tuesday and Thursday.
PHOTOS CONTRIBUTED
A watercolor painting made during an Art
the Park class.