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Elk River Star News
A Night in Bethlehem
Central Lutheran Church in Elk River hosted “ A Night in Bethlehem” on Friday, Dec. 1 in an open house style. Organizers turned their church into Bethlehem to put on the free community event. There were live animals, many interactive activities for the family, opportunities to take photos with Mary, Joseph and baby Jesus and much more.
Elk River grad skates her way onto Disney on Ice
Sophie Leither will be ensemble skater for multiple numbers Dec. 7-10 in St. Paul at Xcel Energy Center by Jim Boyle Editor When Disney on Ice returns to Xcel Energy Center on Dec. 7, a 2018 Elk River High School graduate who learned how to figure skate in Elk River will be one of the...
Otsego residents brave cold for tree lighting and Christmas carols
The Otsego community came together on a cold November night this past week to light a Christmas tree and kick off the magical holiday season with cups of hot cocoa (thankfully) as well as cookies and popcorn. The Rogers Otsego Dayton Women of Today braved the cold and handed out free popcorn and operated a selfie station. Families huddled together for warmth as they heard from Otsego Mayor Jessica Stockamp...
Otsego will host Dec. 4 open house on proposed city campus projects
The city of Otsego will host an open house for the city campus projects from 6 to 7 p.m. Monday, Dec. 4. The open house will be at the combined City Hall and Public Works Facility, 13400 90th St. NE. The purpose of the open house is to inform residents of the proposed project and to provide a history of the space needs study completed to guide the project. There will be tours of the existing facility, and city staff, architectural consultants, and construction management consultants will be present to answer questions from the public. The city website has a dedicated page with project information: https://www.ci.otsego.mn.us/cityfacilityproject.
Kayak launch, picnic shelter, boardwalk, more planned at park
Kayak launch, picnic shelter, boardwalk, more planned at park A grant contract agreement for improvements at Carrick’s Landing Park in Otsego has been approved by the Otsego City Council in action Monday, Nov. 27. The city was notified in June that it was awarded a $350,000 Outdoor Recreation Grant from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for improvements at the park, located at 9050 Quantrelle Ave. The grant has a local match of $350,000. According to the project budget, the city will develop an access site along the Mississippi River at Carrick’s Landing Park, including a kayak launch, river access, shore fishing, boardwalk, nature observation area, overlook, paved trails, signage and a picnic shelter. The work is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2024 with an estimated completion of September 2024.
Council votes 4-1 to establish fire and emergency services department
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor The Otsego City Council has voted 4-1 to adopt a resolution formally establishing the Otsego Fire and Emergency Services Department. “This is somewhat of a housekeeping request, but it is an essential step for us to keep moving the process forward,” Emergency Services Director Daryl Rausch told the City Council...
School Board approves World’s Best Workforce goals
The Elk River Area School Board approved, as part of its consent agenda, the 2023-2024 World’s Best Workforce goals, and its plans, goals and strategies for Achievement and Integration (A&I). These items were presented at the Nov. 13 regular School Board meeting. 2023-2024 goals Goal 1: ISD 728 Early Childhood Programs will increase the area of development average in Teaching Strategies Gold from 90.67% in the spring of 2023 to...
Chamber recognizes businesses, volunteers of the year
The Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors has recognized the recipients of the 2023 PACE Business Awards and the Volunteers of the Year. These awards honor a diverse array of businesses in terms of size, type, and unique attributes. The winners of the various Business of the Year awards were Cornerstone Auto Group, the Star News, Edge Bar + Boutique and 101 Market. Dexter Hanson, of the Central Minnesota Mental Health Center, won the Business Professional of the Year Award. ...
North Star Boys’ Choir brings world acclaim home to Minnesota
Elk River director Francis Stockwell’s choirs share Vienna Boys Choir sound around the world before starting holiday performance season by Katie Lindenfelser Special to the Star News Churches and concerts halls were filled to the brim this past summer as the North Star Boys’ Choir joined other boys choirs for concerts on a tour across...
Shot clock met with approval more than concern by basketball coaches
“Ten…nine…eight…seven…six!” No, that wasn’t the crowd counting down the final seconds of the Elks girls basketball’s team’s 71-62, season-opening win over White Bear Lake on Tuesday, Nov. 28. That was the Elks bench yelling during the second half at teammates to get a shot off before the shot clock expired. Beginning this season, 2023-24, the Minnesota State High School League implemented shot clocks at every boys and girls varsity basketball...
Active Navy engineer takes in vets program with FaceTime
by Jim Boyle Editor Jacob Haack, a lieutenant in the Navy stationed in San Diego, planned on being at his nephew’s last patriotic Veterans Day program at Twin Lakes Elementary School in Elk River before his sister’s son, Jaxxon, would head off to middle school. The combat engineer for Naval Special Warfare, however, was needed...
Ask a Trooper: Talk about the Toward Zero Deaths traffic safety program
Ask a Trooper by Sgt. Jesse Grabow of the Minnesota State Patrol Question: I just saw something about a Minnesota traffic safety program that’s been around for 20 years. Can you talk more about that? Answer: Yes, here is some information we shared on our DPS blog: Minnesota has seen a 32 percent reduction in...
New team in town
Events team to take game day experiences to new heights for Elks with assist from Squatch by Jim Boyle Editor Skaters for Rogers and Maple Grove brought their A-game to the Furniture and Things Community Event Center in Elk River on Thursday, March 2, and another team of mostly high school students with an interest...
Elk River police report: Two flee after police stop; driver had an active warrant; and vehicle fire reported
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor Two men were arrested after one fled from police on foot and the other in a pickup truck. The incident began unfolding shortly before 9:30 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 15, when an officer ran a registration check on a Chevrolet Silverado that was traveling on Highway 10 in Elk River and...
Elk River City Council lifts moratorium at quiet public hearing
by Maggie Stanwood Contributing Writer A moratorium on home occupation applications will be lifted after the Elk River City Council approved amendments to city ordinances which reference home occupations at a meeting on Nov. 20. The moratorium allowed city staff to look at all the ordinances referencing home occupations and make changes to be consistent...
Local governments hosting truth-in-taxation hearings
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor Public hearings on proposed 2024 budgets and property tax levies for area cities, counties and school districts are coming up soon. Known as truth-in-taxation meetings, they give the public an opportunity to comment before local governments adopt their budgets and property tax levies for the upcoming year. Here’s the schedule: ...
Application deadline for new county parks committee is Dec. 8
Sherburne County is accepting applications for seven positions on a new Parks and Trail Advisory Committee. The committee will be made up of one representative from each of the five commissioner districts and two at-large members. Applications will be accepted through 4:30 p.m. Dec. 8. For more information or to apply, go to https://tinyurl.com/4j2t2sz7.
Bid awarded for bridge replacement near Zimmerman
A bid has been awarded for the County State Aid Highway 4 bridge replacement over the St. Francis River in Sherburne County. Redstone Construction LLC was the lowest of five bidders, submitting a bid of $1,533,266. Bids ranged as high as $1,952,663. The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners awarded the bid to Redstone Construction on Tuesday, Nov. 21. The bridge is located west of Zimmerman in Orrock Township. It will be replaced in 2024.
Rogers Otsego Dayton Women of Today unites women
by Jessica Charpentier APG of East Central Minnesota/Crow River News Rogers Otsego Dayton Women of Today is one of almost 50 Women of Today chapters across the state of Minnesota. Women of Today is a national volunteer group open to women 18 and older who strive to serve their community and make friendships and connections. ...
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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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