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Elk River Star News
Shoppers get their steps in at Elk Pride Craft Bazaar
by Jim Boyle Editor Visitors of the Elk Pride Craft Bazaar got their steps in on Saturday, Nov. 4, at Elk River High School to the delight of more than 170 vendors who filled three gymnasiums and the school commons area. Vendors were happy with traffic, and most boasted of robust sales. The money raised...
Downtown Elk River's tree lighting ceremony coming up on Wednesday, Nov. 15
by Jim Boyle Editor Excitement over Halloween in downtown Elk River has barely died down, and members of the Downtown Elk River Business Association and the city of Elk River are at it again to create a Hallmarkesque Christmas holiday setting. Deana McLean, a downtown salon owner and chair of DERBA, and Karen Wingard, the...
Elk River Area Chamber of Commerce announces 2023 business award honorees
The Elk River Chamber Board of Directors announced 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. In all award categories, the focus remains on how the nominees have contributed to the chamber’s mission of cultivating a robust, vibrant business community that enriches the entire region. Their commitment to chamber involvement and positive impact on the community are what set them apart. A panel...
Churches collecting shoebox gifts for Operation Christmas Child
Several area churches will be collecting Operation Christmas Child shoebox gifts for the Samaritan’s Purse project during National Collection Week, Nov. 13-20. Operation Christmas Child has been collecting and delivering shoebox gifts — filled with school supplies, personal care items and toys — to children worldwide since 1993. The project partners with local churches across the globe to deliver the gifts to children in need. ...
New Sherburne County park now has a name
by Joni Astrup Associate Editor A new county park in western Sherburne County now has a name. Two Inlets at Bdé Heháka - Omashkooz Zaaga’igaans Regional Park was approved as the name in a 5-0 vote by the Sherburne County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, Nov. 7. The 430-acre parkland is located on Big Elk...
15,886 sandhill cranes counted at refuge
Sandhill crane numbers have exceeded 15,000 birds at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, according to single-day counts conducted each week during the fall migration. The survey results for Nov. 8 were 15,886 sandhill cranes, down from 17,979 on Nov. 1. There were 12,063 on Oct. 24, 9,401 on Oct. 18 and 7,655 on Oct. 11. The Nov. 8 count is the final one of the fall migration. Sandhill cranes stop at the refuge, located near Zimmerman, on their fall migration journey. Typically, migrating populations of sandhill cranes can be seen from mid-September to mid-November, according to the refuge website.
Salvation Army needs volunteer bell ringers
The Twin Cities Salvation Army kicked off the red kettle season on Nov. 10, and thousands of additional bell ringers are needed. “Bell ringers are vitally important to our campaign, because a kettle that has an actual bell ringer with it will raise between $60 and $90 an hour,” said division commander Lt. Colonel Randall Polsley. “That’s an enormous help in supporting our feeding and housing programs, because an unattended kettle won’t raise any funds.” ...
Government center lit green for veterans
There’s a reason why the lights in front of the Sherburne County Government Center in Elk River are green this week. The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners has proclaimed Nov. 6-12 as Operation Green Light for Veterans Week. It’s an initiative to shine a light on the plight of veterans who are having a hard time connecting with benefits after serving their country, according to a memo to the board from Sherburne County Veterans Service Officer Bruce Price. By shining a green light, the county lets veterans know they are seen, appreciated and supported.
Narcan now available at Coborn’s stores
Coborn’s, Inc. has announced that over-the-counter Narcan nasal spray, an opioid overdosing reversal drug, is now available at all Coborn’s, Cash Wise Foods, and Marketplace Foods grocery stores at the Guest Services counter. This addition to the stores gives guests and the local community access to potentially life-saving medication. In March, the FDA approved Emergent BioSolution’s Narcan to be sold without a prescription. The nasal spray contains the drug naloxone, which binds to opioid receptors and reverses or blocks the effects of other opioids, according...
Sherburne County to meet with MnDOT commissioner
Sherburne County officials were to meet on Thursday, Nov. 9, with the Minnesota Department of Transportation commissioner regarding the proposed Highway 169-County Road 4 interchange project in Zimmerman. “We’re working on the last around $15 million for that project,” Board Chair Lisa Fobbe said at the Tuesday, Nov. 7, county board meeting. In a related matter, Minnesota Senate Capital Investment Committee members were to be in Coon Rapids that same day as part of the 2023 bonding tour. Sherburne County officials also planned to be at that event to discuss the Zimmerman project. “Those are great signs that we’re still on their radar,” Fobbe said.
Rogers OKs purchase agreement for former Hardee’s site
The Rogers City Council has approved a $675,000 purchase agreement for the acquisition of property at 14086 Northdale Blvd., formerly the Hardee’s site. The council also approved a $1 million purchase agreement for acquisition of three parcels of vacant land surrounding the site.
Sherburne County establishes parks, trail committee
The Sherburne County Board of Commissioners has established a Parks and Trails Advisory Committee and authorized county staff to advertise for committee member applications, in action Tuesday, Nov. 7. The committee is envisioned as having seven voting members and two ex-officio non-voting members.
Woman creates Cauzzle, puzzles for a cause
by Jessica Charpentier APG of East Central Minnesota/Crow River News Registered nurse Tina Lonsky decided to design puzzles as a way of giving back to local organizations and the community. Lonsky and her family live in St. Michael, but their oldest child graduated from Elk River High School and their three youngest children attend school...
Anoka Technical College celebrates addition of two machines
The Anoka Technical College Foundation led a celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 10, for the addition of two new pieces of equipment to its Machine Trades Lab. The additions were made possible through a combination of county, state, industry and private funding and donations, according to a press release from the college. The Mazak VC-Ez 16 CNC Vertical Mill and Mazak Quick Turn QT-Ez 8MY CNC Turning Center will help the Machine Trades program at Anoka Tech increase its capacity and bring its training equipment in better alignment with pieces graduates could expect to see on the floors of employers and industry partners, the release states. Acquisition of both pieces of equipment was made possible through a combination of funding from loans through Anoka County’s Housing and Redevelopment Authority, the Minnesota Legislature and contributions from individual and industry donors.
Girl Scouts launch patch collaboration with secretary of state
by Jessica Charpentier APG of East Central Minnesota/Crow River News Local Girl Scouts were honored on Tuesday, Oct. 17, by Minnesota Secretary of State Steve Simon for earning the newly introduced Ready, Set, Vote! patch. The Ready, Set, Vote! patch program is the first of its kind in Girl Scouting and was born out of...
Minnesota’s overdose deaths held steady during 2022
Special to the Star News Overdose deaths held steady from 2021 to 2022, 1,356 to 1,343, marking a plateau after several years of sharp increases, according to the Minnesota Department of Health’s (MDH) Statewide Trends in Drug Overdose: Preliminary 2022 Data Update. At the same time, the preliminary data showed fentanyl-related overdoses continued to take a tragic toll, keeping deaths at a historically high level. Fentanyl, which is more deadly and 50 times more potent than heroin, has made Minnesota’s drug supply more dangerous. Fentanyl...
Athlete of the Week: Beck to represent Sting at cross-country state tournament
by Erik Nelson Sports Reporter Only a sophomore, Hope Beck will make her third state tournament appearance for Spectrum on Saturday, Nov. 4, at the University of Minnesota Les Bolstad Golf Course in Falcon Heights. Beck finished fifth overall in the Section 5-2A girls 5K race in Princeton on Thursday, Oct. 26. She finished in...
Elk River family to seek Krystal’s law for medical cannabis
by Jim Boyle Editor An Elk River mother’s fight to allow her daughter to get the midday dose of medical cannabis she needs at Meadowvale Elementary School is half-way complete. Krystal Mattis, a 9-year-old Elk River girl diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder and epilepsy, needs medical cannabis to fend off seizures and terrible behaviors that...
Elk River veteran wins new roof contest from field of 67
Elk River Veteran Steve Lindberg and his wife Mary got a big surprise a few weeks back when the found out they were the winners of the Roof Rescue-Military Vet program, sponsored by Oberg Roofing and Remodeling Inc. that landed them a freshly shingled roof at no charge. Oberg has offices in St. Cloud and Roseville, and specializes in roofing, siding and remodeling. The company annually provides two free roofs, one for a family in need and one for the family of a military veteran. ...
Timber Bay making connections
Having a positive connection with a caring adult is a critical part of youth emotional development. Timber Bay, which has operated in Buffalo since 1996, found a new way to make this type of connection happen. Last spring, it applied for Statewide Health Improvement Partnership (SHIP) funding to promote adult to youth mentorship, teach youth a new skill, and create connections between local organizations, all centered around building a truck. ...
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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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