Bock
GOVERNMENT
Road work causes challenges for Pease businesses
The Princeton and Milaca areas have been surrounded by road construction this summer, but perhaps one of the most affected cities in the area is Pease. With the installation of a new J-turn at the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 8 — the main road running through Pease — and the resurfacing of Highway 169 between Princeton and Milaca, Pease has essentially been cut off from its normal summer traffic. ...
Input sought for Soo Line Trail master plan
Mille Lacs County is developing a master plan for the Soo Line Trail and insights from area residents are being sought. The county asks that anyone interested share their thoughts through a short survey online at surveymonkey.com/r/SooLineTrailSurvey. There is also a QR code that can be used to access the survey. The deadline for the survey is Aug. 31. The Soo Line Trail is 114.5 miles long, from Royalton, Minn., to Oliver, Wis., going through Mille Lacs, Morrison, Aitkin, Carlton and Pine Counties. It features activities such as ATV riding, fishing, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobiling, walking and cross country skiing. The trail surface is ballast and gravel. More information on the trail can be found at traillink.com.
Milaca City Council reviews 2025 preliminary budget
During a special Milaca City Council meeting on Monday, Aug. 12, the council reviewed the city’s preliminary budget for 2025. As an overview, the total budgeted expenditures for the city currently sit at $8.35 million while revenues are currently expected at $8 million, creating a deficit of just under $347,000. However, that number is expected to change prior to the final approval of the city’s 2025 budget and levy. ...
Project update on Princeton's Seventh Avenue
Below are the most recent updates on the Seventh Avenue reconstruction project in Princeton. On Monday, Aug. 19, the contractor began the installation of sanitary sewer in the street between Eighth and Ninth Street. They will then follow with the watermain, storm sewer, and then services to each property. It will take about a week and a half to complete all the utilities on this block. From Aug. 19-23, the...
Braham Council selects private prosecutor for misdemeanors
Braham City Council decided to hand its city prosecutor duties for misdemeanors to an outside company as part of actions taken at its Wednesday, Aug. 7 meeting. In the past, the Isanti County Attorney’s Office has handled the majority of these duties, with Kanabec County assisting. Both counties provided proposed contracts, with Isanti County’s contract running from now through May 31, 2026. Council also was presented a proposal by Robb...
Candidate filings close for local races
Filings for local races have officially closed as of Tuesday, Aug. 13. Municipal offices, school boards and state races now have the official lists for candidates running for those offices in the general election on Tuesday, Nov. 5. In the Princeton and Milaca areas, races that will appear on local ballots include Baldwin City Council and mayor, Bock City Council and mayor, Foreston City Council and mayor, Milaca City Council...
Writer's group and knitting at local libraries
Writers Group Join us at the library on the 4th Tuesday of the month at 6pm for a Writers Group, facilitated by Delores Topliff. Registration is required, as space is limited. Register on ECRL’s Events Calendar at ecrlib.org or by calling the library. The Milaca Community Library, a branch of the East Central Regional Library system, is located at 235 1st St. E., Milaca, and can be reached at (320)...
Neider drops out of mayor race
As suddenly as current North Branch Councilmember Kelly Neider entered the 2024 mayor race, she has now withdrawn from that race. Neider’s filing as a candidate for mayor appears to have taken place at the last minute of the window for filing, which closed at 5 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 13. A search of the Minnesota Secretary of State’s candidate’s filing page at 5 p.m. on Aug. 13 revealed only two candidates for that election. Forty-five minutes later, though, Neider’s name also appeared on the list.
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