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Elk River Star News
Sherburne Veterans Service Officer Bruce Price announces his retirement
After 12 years with Sherburne County, the last nine of which have been as the appointed veterans services officer, Bruce Price has announced his retirement, effective May 24. Price also spent 24 years in active duty in the U.S. Army and has 40-plus years of service at the county, state and federal government levels. “Bruce devoted his career to serving our county and our country,” County Commissioner and Board Chair...
Friends of Scouting Leadership Breakfast to honor Jim Acers with name change
The 21st annual Friends of Scouting Leadership Breakfast will follow a similar pattern to the first 20, but there will be one major difference. The name has been changed to the Friends of Scouting Jim Acers Leadership Breakfast. Acers, the heart and soul of the fundraising breakfast for two decades, died on Aug. 31, 2023, at the cabin he and his wife, Karen, had on Long Lake in Cotton, Minnesota. The Ramsey man was 85. ...
Signing Day: ERHS, RHS students sign on to RD0 for $32,000 commitment
Star CTE interns for ISD 728 sign agreements with RDO by Jim Boyle Editor The Elk River Area School District held its first Career Technical Education (CTE) Employer Signing Day on Thursday, April 18, at Rogers High School and Elk River High School. ...
Canoe, kayak access and picnic shelter coming to Carrick’s
City of Otsego awarded a $350,000 grant to help offset the cost by Joni Astrup Associate Editor Carrick’s Waterfront Park, located along the Mississippi River near Highway 101 in Otsego, is expected to see some improvements in 2024 to enhance access to the Mississippi and capitalize on the riverside location. ...
Rogers approves sale of 1.31 acres of city-owned property
The Rogers City Council has approved a $550,000 purchase agreement for the sale of 1.31 acres of city-owned property at 136th Avenue and Rogers Drive to Java Companies. A memo to the council from Rogers Community Development Director Brett Angell said the proposed buyer plans to develop a multi-tenant commercial building that would feature a quick service restaurant, coffee shop with a drive-thru, and one additional office-related tenant. The property, originally acquired via TIF1 (tax increment financing) funds in 2006, currently is undeveloped and maintained by the city, according to the memo. The site is bounded by Maynard’s restaurant on the west, a bank and multi-tenant commercial building on the north, a multi-tenant commercial building and movie theater on the east, and a drainage pond on the south.
Two injured in crash at Highway 10-171st
Two people were injured Saturday morning, April 20, in a two-vehicle crash in Elk River. The Minnesota State Patrol was called to the scene at 6:39 a.m. A Kia driven by Abigail Cisneros, 39, of Fridley, was turning left at 171st Avenue onto westbound Highway 10. A Volkswagen Jetta driven by Nicholas Isaacson, 32, of Superior, Wisconsin, was westbound on Highway 10, The two vehicles collided in the intersection, according to the State Patrol. Both drivers were taken to Mercy Hospital in Coon Rapids with injuries that the State Patrol described as non-life threatening. They were wearing seat belts and alcohol was not involved, the State Patrol reported.
Two local arts groups win grants from CMAB
The Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) has awarded a total of $218,421 in support of 29 regional arts projects, including two in the Elk River area. They are: • Rum River Art Center, $8,000, for expanding the Senior Art-Reach program series of outreach classes for older adults ages 55+ held from June 2024 to March 2025 at the Elk River Senior Center and at the St. Michael Library. • SOAR Regional Arts, $7,200, for SOAR Troup traveling performances held at area long-term care facilities between October 2024 and May 2025 in St. Michael, Otsego, Albertville and Rogers. Funding for these grants is provided through an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature with money from the state’s general fund, and its Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund created by the voters of Minnesota.
Bid awarded for Ashwood Park in Otsego
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor Plans for Ashwood Park in Otsego are moving ahead, with the City Council awarding bids for construction of the project on April 22. A total of six bids were received and the City Council awarded the low bid to Vada Contracting LLC of Cokato in the amount of $315,639. Bids...
Chad Lanners hired as new executive director of CROSS Services nonprofit in Rogers
Chad Lanners has been hired as the new executive director of CROSS Services in Rogers. Lanners will have overall leadership responsibility for the 47-year-old nonprofit social service agency that provides food assistance, financial programs, and children’s programs for individuals and families in need living in Rogers, Maple Grove, Osseo, Corcoran, Dayton, west Champlin, St. Michael, and Albertville. “I am excited to join CROSS Services and lead the organization, as we...
Elk River Rotary Club guest speaker lineup announced
The Rotary Club of Elk River has a strong lineup of guest speakers scheduled for upcoming weekly meetings. The club meets each Thursday for an hour beginning at 12:05 p.m. at Rockwoods in Otsego. Guests are welcome to join and attend meetings. On April 25: Bret Denison, Diageo Hospitality Partnership Spirits Education & Tasting, will discuss Diageo’s premium alcoholic beverages and share the company’s vision and commitment to U.S. communities. ...
Lawrence receives committee assignments
Newly elected state Rep. Bryan Lawrence, R-Princeton, has received his committee assignments after being sworn in on April 2. He will be serving on the Education Finance and the Children and Families Finance and Policy Committees through the end of the session. Lawrence was recently elected via special election to succeed the retired Rep. Kurt Daudt, R-Crown.
Driver airlifted after pursuit that began in Otsego, ended in rollover
A motorist who authorities say fled from Wright County deputies before crashing was airlifted to the hospital Sunday night. At approximately 10:25 p.m. Sunday, April 21, the Wright County Sheriff’s Office responded to a traffic complaint of a motorist who was driving erratically. A Wright County deputy located the vehicle in the city of Otsego. The deputy activated emergency lights and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. ...
Elk River Youth Baseball Association hosts umpire clinic for youth
by Jim Boyle Editor More than three dozen youth baseball players turned out for an umpire clinic on Saturday, April 6 to learn the finer points of umpiring baseball games. Veteran umpires Norm Witteborg and Chris Hinkle worked with 42 kids at the four-hour clinic. Those that completed the training and work a minimum of...
Spectrum’s Addison Wallschlaeger throws no hitter
Addison Wallschlaeger came within one fielding error of throwing a perfect game on April 11 in Spectrum’s home opener. Wallschlaeger completed a no-hitter, striking out 13 of the 22 batters she faced against conference rival West Lutheran (1-1, 0-1) as the Sting advanced to 5-0 on the season and 2-0 in conference play. Wallschlaeger’s sister, Reagan Wallschlaeger, threw a no-hitter last season. ...
Teachers OK tentative settlement, School Board votes April 22
The Elk River Education Association (EREA) teacher members voted on Thursday, April 11, and approved the 2023-25 tentative agreement reached with ISD 728 on March 12. The ISD 728 School Board will next take up a vote at its April 22 meeting. EREA President Lisa Olson reports that together with the district’s team, 17 negotiation sessions were held between May 2023 and March 2024. ...
Elk River Area School District preparing more fields in Zimmerman
Special to the Star News The Elk River Area School District will continue to deliver on its commitments to the Zimmerman community, made possible by the 2019 bond and referendum, with another series of projects this construction season. “We continue to examine our list of needs throughout the district, and of course facilities were a large part of our process in turning to voters in 2019 to fund multiple projects...
Local DFL holds first in-person convention since 2018
by Jim Boyle Editor Local Democrats gathered at Prairie View Middle School in Otsego on Saturday, April 13, for the Senate District 30 DFL Convention. This was the group’s first in-person convention since 2018 after the pandemic. “So much has...
Historic partnership recognizes cultural connections to park
by Cordelia Frykman Special to the Star News The new park at Big Elk Lake in the western reaches of Sherburne has been a historic undertaking by local county officials. The park, officially named Two Inlets at Bdé Heháka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park on Nov. 7, 2023, represents a partnership between the county and...
Ask a Trooper: Do I need a permit to get a boat dock to my lake house?
Ask a Trooper by Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol Question: I bought a used boat dock; do I need a permit to get it to my lake house? Answer: You can move a boat dock on Minnesota roads without a permit if the dock is no wider than 8 feet and 6 inches, no higher than 13 feet and 6 inches and no longer than 110 feet....
Elk River police report: Boy, 8, is in vehicle as thief opens door, steals purse; assault reported on Highway 169
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor A boy was inside a vehicle in Elk River when a male opened the door and stole a purse. A woman reported that her vehicle was parked in front of Dawn of Discovery Childcare, 19280 Evans St., at the time of the theft. The vehicle was running and her 8-year-old...
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Elk River Star News serves the Elk River, Otsego, Rogers and Zimmerman communities dating back to 1872. Published Saturdays by APG of East Central Minnesota. 24/7 local coverage found online at www.erstarnews.com
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